Question

Describe the important properties of enzymes.

Answer 1

Hint:Enzymes are capable of catalysing the chemical reaction of biological origin without undergoing any self change.They are proteinaceous substances.They are referred as biocatalyst.

Complete answer:
The properties of enzymes are as follows
>Enzymes are macromolecules with high molecular weight.
>They act as a catalyst in biochemical reactions happening in the cells.They break down larger molecules into smaller ones or bind two smaller molecules together into larger molecules.
>Enzymes speed up the rate of the reaction.
>Enzymes affect only the rate of the reaction but not the direction of the reaction.
>Activity of enzymes decreases with increasing temperature.The maximum activity of enzymes is shown at 30-40 degree Celsius.
>Enzymes are specific in action.
>Turnover number for most of the enzymes is high.Number of molecules of a substance which is acted upon by an enzyme per minute under saturated substrate concentration is denoted as turnover number of an enzyme.Efficiency of the reaction increases when the turnover number of an enzyme is high.
>Maximum activity of an enzyme is at pH 6-8.
>Only a small quantity of enzyme is required to form a desired product.
>They are sensitive to certain chemicals called inhibitors or modulators.
>Specific sites called active sites are present in each enzyme.They help in binding of substrate.
Increase in substrate concentration happens when the velocity of enzyme increases,this reaching the maximum velocity.

Note: Few applications of the enzymes
Medical applications of enzymes:
They treat enzyme related disorders.
They help in metabolism.
They help in drug delivery.
They help in manufacturing medicines.

Industrial applications of enzymes:
They are used in detergents and washing soaps.
Protease enzymes remove stains of protein like blood,sweat etc.
Amylase,lactase,cellulase enzyme breaks complex sugars into simpler sugars.