Difference between revisions of "Enzyme"
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| − | An '''enzyme''' is a [[protein]] produced by a living organism that functions as a [[catalyst]]. | + | An '''enzyme''' is a [[protein]] produced by a living organism that functions as a [[catalyst]]. |
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| + | == Mechanism == | ||
| + | Enzymes increase the speed and likelihood of chemical reactions within an organism's body by lowering the activation energy necessary for a reaction to occur. This happens because the enzyme selects the particular configuration of the substrate and bends the bonds into the energetically-favorable orientation, with a consequent decrease in entropy. They are essential to all cellular functions, and most life could not exist without them, although viruses lack enzymes, but use them from their host cell.<ref>http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3266</ref> The active site, a three-dimensional structure, is the only region of the enzyme that binds to the substrate. It permits only a particular substrate to bind to the site.<ref>https://www.britannica.com/science/enzyme</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
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[[Category:Reaction Kinetics]] | [[Category:Reaction Kinetics]] | ||
[[Category:Organic Chemistry]] | [[Category:Organic Chemistry]] | ||
[[Category:Biochemistry]] | [[Category:Biochemistry]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:08, October 15, 2016
An enzyme is a protein produced by a living organism that functions as a catalyst.
Mechanism
Enzymes increase the speed and likelihood of chemical reactions within an organism's body by lowering the activation energy necessary for a reaction to occur. This happens because the enzyme selects the particular configuration of the substrate and bends the bonds into the energetically-favorable orientation, with a consequent decrease in entropy. They are essential to all cellular functions, and most life could not exist without them, although viruses lack enzymes, but use them from their host cell.[1] The active site, a three-dimensional structure, is the only region of the enzyme that binds to the substrate. It permits only a particular substrate to bind to the site.[2]