UNIT 3: ENZYMES

An enzyme is an organic compound that acts as a increasing concentrations of substrates the rate
catalyst for a biochemical reaction. Each cell in the increases and approaches a limit where there is no
human body contains thousands of different enzymes dependence of rate on concentration.
because almost every reaction in a cell requires its own
specific enzyme. Enzymes cause cellular reactions to Leonor Michaelis and Maud Menten were among the
occur millions of times faster than corresponding first scientist to experiment with enzyme kinetics in a
uncatalyzed reactions. As catalysts, enzymes are not “modern” way, controlling the pH of the solution.
consumed during the reaction but merely help the
reaction occur more rapidly. Enzymes can be divided into two general structural
classes:
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a
chemical reaction by reducing the amount of energy • Simple enzyme is an enzyme composed only of
needed to start that reaction. This is called lowering the protein (amino acid chains).
activation energy. • Conjugated enzyme is an enzyme that has a
nonprotein part in addition to a protein part. By
Activation energy can be thought of as a hill that must itself, neither the protein part nor the nonprotein
be gotten over. When a catalyst acts, it lowers the portion of a conjugated enzyme has catalytic
energy required to get over the hill and the reaction properties.
can proceed. An enzyme is an organic catalyst
meaning that it is a protein that catalyzes reactions in An apoenzyme is the protein part of a conjugated
living organisms. Most reactions in the body require enzyme. A cofactor is the nonprotein part of a
enzymes. conjugated enzyme. It is the combination of
apoenzyme with cofactor that produces a
Enzyme kinetics studies the reaction rates of enzyme- biochemically active enzyme. A holoenzyme is the
catalyzed reactions and how the rates are affected by biochemically active conjugated enzyme produced
changes in experimental conditions. An essential from an apoenzyme and a cofactor.
feature of enzyme-catalyzed reactions is saturation—at

The first step of the reaction is the binding of the substrate (A) to the enzyme (E) to form and enzyme-substrate
complex (EA) which then reacts to give the product (P) and free enzyme.

MODELS OF ENZYME ACTION

The active site is the relatively small part of an enzyme’s An enzyme–substrate complex is the intermediate
structure that is actually involved in catalysis. The active reaction species that is formed when a substrate binds
site in an enzyme is a three-dimensional entity formed to the active site of an enzyme. Within the enzyme–
by groups that come from different parts of the protein substrate complex, the substrate encounters more
chain(s). These groups are brought together by the favorable reaction conditions than if it were free. The
folding and bending of secondary and tertiary result is faster formation of product.
structure of the protein. The active site is usually a
“crevicelike” location in the enzyme.

MICKO NIEVES|PHARM 211L 1

Lock-and-Key Model
In the lock-and-key model, the active site in the enzyme has a fixed, rigid geometrical conformation. Only substrates
with a complementary geometry can be accommodated at such a site, much as a lock accepts only certain keys.

Lock-and-Key Model. Only a substrate whose shape and chemical nature are complementary to those of the active
site can interact with the enzyme

Induced Fit Model

Allows for small changes in the shape or geometry of the active site of an enzyme to accommodate a substrate. The
induced fit is a result of the enzyme’s flexibility; it adapts to accept the incoming substrate. This ideal binding maximizes
the enzyme’s ability to catalyze its reaction.

Induced Fit Model. The enzyme active site, although not exactly complementary in shape to that of the substrate, is fl
exible enough that it can adapt to the shape of the substrate.

There are four steps in the process of an enzyme Enzymes sometimes need to be controlled when done
working: with their function. Other times they are controlled
because of poisons. Denaturing occurs when the
• An enzyme and a substrate are in the same area. control changes the enzymes shape.
The substrate is the biological molecule that the
enzyme will work on. • Temperature
Proteins change shape as temperatures change.
• The enzyme grabs onto the substrate with a special Because so much of an enzyme's activity is based on
area called the active site. The active site is a its shape, temperature changes can mess up the
specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits process and the enzyme won't work.
around the substrate. The active site is the keyhole
of the lock. • Activators
Sometimes you need an enzyme to work faster and
• A process called catalysis happens. Catalysis is your body creates an activator. Other times you might
when the substrate is changed. It could be broken eat something that acts as an activator. Activators
down or combined with another molecule to make make enzymes work harder and faster. Activators can
something new. help the enzyme bind to the substrate.

• When the enzyme lets go, it returns to normal, • pH levels

ready to do another reaction. The substrate is no In the same way that temperature can change the
longer the same. The substrate is now called the shape of proteins, the pH of the environment does the
product or products. same thing. The proteins denature if too acid or too
basic.

MICKO NIEVES|PHARM 211L 2

• Inhibitors inhibitor and bond to another spot causing the shape
Inhibitors either slow down or stop the activity of an to change. When the shape changes, the enzyme will
enzyme. An inhibitor can be a competetive inhibitor not work the same way. A nasty example of an inhibitor
and block the active site or it can be an allosteric is snake venom or cyanide.

References:
[1] General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 5th Edition by Stephen Stoker
[2] Activity 3: Enzymes Handout from Saint Louis University Pharmacy Department

MICKO NIEVES|PHARM 211L 3