Enzymes: Importance, Classifications and Applications

 Enzymes:

    Enzymes are natural catalysts, found in living organisms. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed. Generally, they are proteins. 

Importance of enzymes:

•  Enzymes are the most important globular proteins and catalysts in living organisms.
• They catalyze the metabolic reaction without enzymes; the reaction will take place in one year instead of one second.
• They help in fighting against infections and strengthen the immune system.
• They help in the diagnosis of disease.
• They are very useful in making drugs.
• Enzymes are essential for digestion, DNA replication and cell divison.
• In short, without enzymes, life becomes impossible.

Classification of enzymes:

    Enzymes are classified into six main types according to their substrate and function.The commission on Enzyme is appointed by the International Union of BioChemistry(IUB).

Transferase:

    Transferase is responsible for such a reaction in which the exchange of a functional group occurs. It move functional group between molecules. For example, methyltransferase(add or remove methyl group) and transaminases(transfer amino group). It has great importance in DNA replication, in drug development, and also a biomarker for disease.

Oxidoreductase:

    Oxidoreductase enzymes have crucial role in catalyze the oxidation-reduction(redox) reactions. They transfer proton(H+) or hydrogen or oxygen between molecules. Common examples are reductase(transfer electron) and dehydrogenases(remove hydrogen). They play a crucial role as bioremadiation and biosensors. These are also essential for respiration and energy production.

Lyases:

    Lyases enzymes catalyze adding or removing of groups that form rings or double bond. They also catalyze elimination reaction. Some examples of lyases are dehydratase(removes water) and decarboxylase(remove carboxylic group). They have great importance in drug synthesis, metabolic pathway and biotechnology because they don't need hydrolysis or redox reactions to break bond.

Hydrolases:

    As name shows hydrolase catalyze hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a chemical process in which larger molecules are split into smaller by using water. Examples of hydrolases are lipase(break fats into fattyacid), nucleases(break nucleic acid) and amylase(break down carbohydrate into simple sugar). Hydrolases are very important inmetabolism, digestion and removal of waste product.

Isomerases:

    Isomerase enzymes catalyze the rearrangement of molecule to form different isomers. For example glucose isomerase(convert glucose into fructose), alanine racemase(converts amino acid to its one form to other) They are very important in synthesis of natural complex product, in carbohydrate metabolism and also energy production. 

Ligases:

    Ligase catalyze reaction in which high energy bonds are break and two molecules are link togather. For example DNA ligase joint DNA fragment and RNA ligase join RNA fragment. Ligase has great importance in cloning, DNA replication and repairing, cell division and DNA nanotechnology.

Properties of enzymes:

    Enzymes are globular protein and have specific properties. some are describe below.

1.Specification:

    All enzymes are specific to perform specific reaction. There are two models about the specification of enzymes. 

1. Lock-and-Key model
2. Induced-Fit model

Lock-and-Key model:

    Lock-and-Key model define enzyme as a lock and substrate as key. It was porposed by Emil Fischer in 1894. As specific key can unlock specific lock, a specific enzyme can bond with specific substrate to catalyze a reaction. Enzyme has rigid geometry and cannot change.

Induced-Fit model:

     Induced-Fit model shows enzyme as flexible substance that change its shape according to substrate. 

2.Reusable substance:

    Enzymes can be reuse after complete a reaction. Enzymes don't transform itself during reaction. So, it can be use again and again.

3.Direction of enzyme action:

        Enzyme react with substrate in order to catalyze a reaction. However, mostly enzymes perform reversible reaction.

4.Protein nature:

     Enzymes are globular proteins so they form 3D structure. They have highly complex structure. Like other protein they also made of amino acids. 

5.Biological catalyst:

   Enzymes are biological catalyst that speed up a metabolic reaction. They only found in nature but in these days they also prepared in laboratory by using natural resources.

Applications of enzymes:

    Enzymes are widely used in household, industries and research labs.

• Amaylase use in making bread during fermentation.
• Some enzymes are use in making flavors.
• Lipase, amalyse and protease are used in making soda wash and other detergent.
• They also use for diagnosis of diesease.
• Restriction enzymes are use in genetic engineering.
• Mostly enzymes are used as bioremediations.