Effect of enzymes on reactions Essay

Effect of enzymes on responsesIntroduction The function of whatsoever enzyme largely depends on the arrangement of its aminic acids. The shape of an enzyme is so of the essence(p) such that any alteration or change in its amino acid sequence can father a huge effect on its function. An alteration to the amino acids in an enzyme does not moreover alter it shape only also its functionality. During a reaction, the whole enzyme does not retire part but rather a small part know as the active site. The shape and behavior of the active site in any enzyme is determined by its leash dimensional structure. The active site of an enzyme houses the shape of the substratum that needs to be changed during the reaction. This operator that enzymes and subst points work like a lock and key. Since a peculiar(prenominal) key can only open a specific lock, this is explains why enzymes are specific in their reactions.How enzymes catalyze reactions As noted earlier, enzymes go as throttle valves that speed up the rate at which biochemical reactions take place. They principal(prenominal)ly work by offering a substitute path for reactions. Compared to other(a) catalysts, the pathway provided by enzymes reduces activation nothing. The same with all other catalysts, enzymes participate in reactions and this is the main way through which they offer a substitute reaction pathway. However, it is worthy noting that enzymes do not undergo any permanent changes during a reaction but remain intact. There main role in a reaction is to increase the rate but not the position of the reaction equilibrium (Cornish-Bowden 47). conflicting chemicals that catalyze a number of reactions, enzymes are usually rattling selective and can only catalyze precise reactions. This characteristic can be attributed to the shape of molecules that lick up enzymes. Majority of enzymes are made up of a protein and non protein known as the cofactor. In most cases, the proteins found in the enzyme s are globular. both change in temperature and pH disrupts the inter-molecular and intra-molecular bonds that hold the proteins together in their 3rd and secondary structures. This means that catalytic ability of an enzyme is temperature and pH sensitive. For any molecules to react, they moldiness come into contact with single another. In other words, they must shake up with enough energy and in the correct direction. Sufficient energy is all-important(a) during a reaction because it helps the molecules overcome the energy barrier to the reaction. This type of energy is known as activation energy. During a reaction, the active side of an enzyme attaches itself to one of the reacting molecules known as the substrate. A reaction catalyzed by an enzyme takes a diametric route compared to that catalyzed by other catalysts. The coming together of an enzyme and a substrate results in a reaction intermediate.Enzyme substrate Enzyme-substrate complex The best prove that can be us ed to validate the claim that enzymes do in fact catalyze reactions is looking at how enzymes help homosexual beings compendium food. There are different types of foods that are consumed by human beings. well-nigh of the most common foods consumed by people are the dickens types of sugars videlicet disaccharides and monosaccharaides. These two sugars are derived from foods like fruits which also contain fructose and glucose. either monosaccharides derived from the foods that we eat is absorbed directly and transported to different cells in the body (Cornish-Bowden 96). Unlike monosaccharides, disaccharides need to be broken down into their monosaccharide form in front they can be absorbed into the body. In the absence of a catalyst, the rate at which the absorption of monosaccharide galactose and glucose take place is very slow. Since human bodies require a lot of energy to function properly, it is important that the absorption process is quickened through the use of an enzym e. The main enzyme that is produced by human bodies to quicken the absorption process is known as a lactase. The experiment would involve the following steps.This experiment can be represented utilise the following diagram.Fill a tube with 20 ml of a lactose solution.Fill another tube with 20 ml of lactose solution and 2 ml of lactase solution. Shake the tube to hold that the two solutions mix.Give the experiment 5 minutes for the lactose to division into galactose and glucose.Use a test ecdysiast to monitor the process. Originally, the strip is usually colored aqua. If it turns brown, olive or green, it is an indication that glucose is present.Compare the results from the two tubes. If the color of the test strip turns brown, olive or green, this is an indication that glucose is present. This means that reaction in the tube with lactase was catalyzed resulting in the production of glucose. The reaction in the other tube was slow because there was no catalyst to quicken the re action. The result from this experiment indicates that indeed enzymes can play a big role in catalyzing reactions.ReferencesCornish-Bowden, Athel. Fundamentals of Enzyme Kinetics. (3rd edition), Portland Press, 2004. Print.Source document