Section 3 - Basic Concepts and Kinetics of
Enzymes
Chapter 6 - Basic Concepts of Enzyme Action
6.1 - Enzymes Are Powerful and Highly Specific Catalysts
● Enzymes → accelerate the rate of reactions
● Substrates: reactants of enzyme reactions
○ eg. Proteolytic enzymes catalyze proteolysis
○ Some enzymes are very specific (eg trypsin and thrombin) and others are not
specific (eg papain)
■ Specific enzymes will only catalyze a specific reaction, while
unspecific enzymes will catalyze a lot of different reactions
■ The specificity of an enzyme is due to the precise interaction of the
substrate with the enzyme. This precision is a result of the intricate 3D
structure of the enzyme protein
● Six major classes of enzymes
○ Oxidoreductases
■ Transfer electrons between molecules
■ Catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions (Redox)
Enzymes
Chapter 6 - Basic Concepts of Enzyme Action
6.1 - Enzymes Are Powerful and Highly Specific Catalysts
● Enzymes → accelerate the rate of reactions
● Substrates: reactants of enzyme reactions
○ eg. Proteolytic enzymes catalyze proteolysis
○ Some enzymes are very specific (eg trypsin and thrombin) and others are not
specific (eg papain)
■ Specific enzymes will only catalyze a specific reaction, while
unspecific enzymes will catalyze a lot of different reactions
■ The specificity of an enzyme is due to the precise interaction of the
substrate with the enzyme. This precision is a result of the intricate 3D
structure of the enzyme protein
● Six major classes of enzymes
○ Oxidoreductases
■ Transfer electrons between molecules
■ Catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions (Redox)
