Question

(a) What are enzymes ?
(b)Discuss the mechanism of enzyme action.

Answer 1

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts within living cells. Catalysts increase the rate of chemical reactions occurs without being consumed or permanently altered themselves.

The basic mechanism by which enzymes catalyze chemical reactions begins with the binding of the substrate to the active site on the enzyme. The active site is the specific region of the enzyme which combines with the substrate. Mechanism of enzyme action is well explained in terms of lock and key model of enzyme action.

The active site was thought to have a fixed structure (the lock), which exactly matched the structure of a specific substrate (the key). Thus the enzyme and substrate interact to form an enzyme-substrate complex. The substrate is converted to products that no longer fit the active site and are therefore released, liberating the enzyme.