WEEK 11: ENZYMES AND  HOLOENZYME - complete, active

enzyme formed when the apoenzyme is

VITAMINS combined with its cofactor (metal ion)
or coenzyme (organic molecule like
SLIDE 2: NATURE OF ENZYMES vitamins).
 ENZYMES - act as biological catalysts
that speed up chemical reactions in SLIDE 4: FUNCTIONS OF ENZYMES
living organisms without being WHAT DO ENZYMES DO IN THE BODY?
consumed.
 Catalyst - a substance that increases the rate 1. SPEED UP REACTIONS
of chemical reaction w/o itself undergoing a Enzymes act as catalysts, meaning they
permanent chemical change. make reactions happen faster without being
used up. They work by lowering the
 They work by lowering activation energy, activation energy, which is the amount of
making processes such as digestion, energy needed to start a reaction.
metabolism, and DNA replication EXAMPLE: Catalase breaks down harmful
efficient and precise. hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen
 Metabolism - sum of all chemical quickly—this protects cells from damage.
reactions in the body that convert  Catalase - an enzyme found in nearly all
food into energy & building blocks, & living cells that protects the body from
remove wastes. damage by breaking down hydrogen
 DNA Replication - the process of peroxide into harmless water.
making an exact copy of DNA before  Hydrogen Peroxide - a chemical
cell division. compound made of hydrogen and
oxygen; a byproduct of metabolism
 Enzymes accelerate reactions, but unlike and can be harmful if it builds up.
them, Enzymes are highly specific—each
enzyme acts only on a particular 2. HELP IN METABOLISM
substrate, fitting like a “lock and key.” Metabolism includes all the chemical
 Substrate - specific reactant reactions in the body—breaking down food,
(molecule) that an enzyme has to making energy, and building body
act/work on. structures. Different enzymes are involved in
every step of digestion, respiration, and
 Enzymes share common properties such tissue repair.
as reusability, sensitivity to temperature
& pH, & the ability to function in small EXAMPLE: Amylase in saliva breaks down
amounts. starch into sugar.
 Metabolism - sum of all chemical
SLIDE 3: STRUCTURE OF ENZYMES reactions in the body that convert food
 BASIC STRUCTURE: into energy & building blocks, & remove
- Made of long chains of amino acids wastes.
folded into complex 3D shapes.  Amylase - a digestive enzyme that
- Have an active site where substrates breaks down starch into simpler sugars
bind. (maltose and glucose).
 Starch - a complex carbohydrate
 SOME ENZYMES REQUIRE: (polysaccharide) made of many glucose
- Cofactors (metal ions like Mg²⁺ or Zn²⁺) units; found in rice, potatoes, bread
- Coenzymes (organic molecules, often
vitamins) 4. PROTECT THE BODY
Enzymes are part of the immune system.
 2 MAIN COMPONENTS: They help destroy harmful bacteria and
- Apoenzyme: Protein part viruses by breaking down their cell walls or
- Holoenzyme: Apoenzyme + DNA.
cofactor/coenzyme
EXAMPLE: Lysozyme in tears and saliva kills
 APOENZYME - protein part of an bacteria.
enzyme that is inactive on its own.  Lysozyme - an enzyme found in tears,
Needs a non-protein helper (cofactor or saliva, and mucus. It breaks down the
coenzyme) to become active.
 cell walls of bacteria; first line of defense  Break or remove groups from
in the immune system. molecules to create new structures.
 Aldolase - enzyme that has a
5. INVOLVED IN DNA REPLICATION & carbon–carbon bond without using
REPAIR water or oxidation.
Enzymes help copy DNA when cells divide
and also repair damaged DNA to prevent 5. Isomerases – Rearrange atoms within a
mutations. molecule (structural changes). Example:
Mutase
EXAMPLE: DNA polymerase helps build new  Are enzymes that rearrange atoms
DNA strands. within a molecule to form an isomer.
 DNA Polymerase - It reads the existing  Isomer - having the same chemical
DNA strand; adds complementary formula as another molecule but a
nucleotides (A, G, T, C) to form a new different arrangement of atoms.
strand.  Mutase - enzyme that moves a
group within a molecule to change its
SLIDE 5: CLASSIFICATION OF ENZYMES structure for metabolism.
Enzymes are classified into six major
6. Ligases – Join two molecules together
classes according to the type of
with the help of ATP. Example: DNA
reaction they catalyze:
ligase
 Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) -
1. Oxidoreductases – Catalyze oxidation–
main energy carrier in cells. It stores
reduction/Redox (electron transfer)
and provides energy for cell
reactions. Example: Dehydrogenase,
activities, like muscle movement,
Oxidase
nerve signals, and chemical
 It means the enzyme speeds up the reaction where
electrons are transferred between molecules. reactions.
 Oxidation - losing electrons;  DNA Ligase - an enzyme that joins
Reduction - gaining electrons pieces of DNA together; essential for
 These always happen together (one DNA replication and repair.
molecule is oxidized, the other is
reduced). SLIDE 6: MECHANISM OF ENZYME
ACTION
2. Transferases – Transfer functional
groups (like phosphate, amino, methyl) STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS:
from one molecule to another. Example: 1. Substrate Binding – The enzyme binds
Kinase, Transaminase to its specific substrate at the active site,
 Kinase - enzyme that transfers forming an enzyme-substrate complex.
phosphate from ATP to another  Substrate - specific reactant
molecule, controlling energy and (molecule) that an enzyme has to
regulation in cells. act/work on.

3. Hydrolases – Break bonds by adding 2. Formation of Transition State – The

water (hydrolysis). Example: Amylase, enzyme stabilizes the substrate in a way
Lipase that makes it easier for bonds to break
 Hydrolysis - a chemical reaction or form.
where a molecule is broken down by
adding water. 3. Catalysis – The enzyme lowers the
 Lipase - enzyme that digests fats activation energy, helping the reaction
into glycerol and fatty acids; occur faster.
Produced by the pancreas and  Catalyst - substance that speeds up
secreted into the small intestine a chemical reaction without being
 Amylase - a digestive enzyme that used up.
breaks down starch into simpler
sugars (maltose and glucose).  Catalysis - process of speeding up a
reaction using a catalyst.
4. Lyases – Break bonds without water or  Lowering Activation Energy -
oxidation, often forming double bonds. Enzymes make reactions faster by
Example: Aldolase reducing the energy required.
4. Product Formation – The substrate is
converted into products.

5. Product Release – The enzyme

releases the product and is free to
catalyze another reaction.

SLIDE 7: ENZYME INHIBITION

 ENZYME INHIBITION - a fundamental
biological process that involves the
reduction or cessation of enzyme
activity due to the presence of specific
molecules known as enzyme inhibitors.
 Reduction - gaining electrons (or
hydrogen)
 Cessation - stopping/ending of
something

 Enzyme inhibitors play a pivotal role in

regulating various metabolic pathways,
ensuring cellular balance, and even
serving as potential therapeutic agents.
Therefore, understanding the
intricacies/complexities of enzyme
inhibition is crucial for both biological
research and medical applications.