part#1
Introduction to enzymes
• Definition of enzymes
• Characteristics of enzymes
• Role in biological systems
, 1. Introduction to Enzymes
Definition of Enzymes:
• Enzymes are biological macromolecules, primarily proteins, that act as cataly
to increase the rate of chemical reactions in living organisms.
• Unlike inorganic catalysts, enzymes function under optimal physiological
conditions, including moderate temperature and neutral pH, ensuring high
specificity and efficiency. They achieve this by lowering the activation energy
required for reactions to proceed, facilitating the transformation of substrate
into products.
• Example is the catalysis of sucrose hydrolysis by the enzyme sucrase (inverta
that reduces its energy requirement and help the reaction occur more rapid