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Easy to answer: it's what makes an enzyme special. The natural order of enzymes makes them like a key-lock mechanism: one key opens specifically one lock. There are keys that can resemble the original one and keep the enzyme working and keys that may just fit but not activate. Exactly the same thing happens with enzymes. Substrates that are made for that enzyme link to it's active site to suffer metabolical canges, where the function of the enzyme lies.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAn enzyme is made up of anywhere between a 100 and 10000 atoms or more. They form long chains which come together to form a VERY specific shape. These arrangements can be very susceptible too a number of different factors, but are most susceptible to heat and pH. They are sensitive enough to selectively combine with molecules with concentrations measured in ppb (parts per billion).
They are often described analogous to a lock and key system. An enzyme being a lock specific to only one key, the target molecule.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThey are not necessarily specific to just one reaction. Generally speaking an enzyme works by having a part of its molecule fit and hold a particular kind of molecule (in some complex cases more than two molecules are required to react with each other). It then might apply stresses to the molecule to break the molecular bonds or it might change them, much as we might cut screw threads into a rod with a particular tool that can fit rods of a particular thickness. Such a tool could not work on rods that are far too thin or too thick, but within reason it would work as well on a long rod as on a short rod.
Similarly, enzymes would largely work on suitable molecules that would fit its "gripping part" or "active site", but not on other active molecules. Some enzymes have more than one active site and the active sites may work on different kinds of molecules.
But insofar as enzymes are specific, it is because its active sites only fit particular molecules and only can work the right changes on particular molecules.
So, for example, if an enzyme can fit an alcohol molecule and an organic acid molecule, it might be able to form an ester molecule and a water molecule from the pair. But even if it could fit an aldehyde instead of an acid, it would not be able to form an ester because aldehydes and alcohols cannot easily react to give esters.
However, an ester of such a kind might be able to form esters of various kinds from alcohols and acids of different chain lengths. So for example, your body forms glycerol esters with quite a wide mix of fatty acid molecules.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoAn enzyme only works in one type of reaction, because each reaction has a specific enzyme enzymes are not universal they are specific.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause enzymes are specialized in their function
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoInhibition by the use of inhibitors (reduces activity of enzymes) =)
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What is a special vesicle containing enzymes called?
One type is called Lysosomes. Peroxisome is another.
What are suicide sacs also known as?
Lysosome contain digestive enzymes for almost all type of organic material. If their covering membrane breaks as it happens during injury to cell, the digestive enzymes will spill over cell content and digest the same. As lysosomes are organelles which on bursting can kill cells possessing them ,they are called suicide bags
Do insects make their own food?
Carnivorous plants - such as the Venus Fly-trap, Pitcher and Sundew - make their food from dissolving the bodies of the insects that are trapped. The plant excretes enzymes to break-down the tissues of the insects, and the plant absorbs the nutrients.
What is a clucker?
it is a type of duck with only 2 toes
What animal has only one tooth?
A male narwhal.(a type of whale)
Why some enzymes are called hydrolytic enzyme?
They catalyze hydrolysis reactions. These are reactions in which water is added to cause larger molecules (like long carbohydrates and other polymers) to break down into smaller subunits. Enzymes are typically named for the type of reaction they catalyze or for the substrate/product related to the enzymatic reaction
If a protein performs catalysis are they an enzyme?
no, because enzymes are specific which they only catalyze one type of reactions.
Do proteins have anything to do with Enzymes catalyze reactions?
Yes, most if not all enzymes are some type of protein.
What is meant by enzyme specificly?
Enzymes work on one substrate specifically. This is why there is millions of different types of enzymes to interact with all the molecules they need to metabolically and chemically react with.
What is the definition of enzyme?
Enzymes are proteins that are able to catalyze (i.e accelerate) biochemical reactions. During the course of a reaction, the enzyme is able to convert a substrate to a product but the enzyme does not get consumed in the reaction.
What type of molecule is made from amino acids and acts as a biological catalyst?
Molecules that act as catalysts in biological systems are enzymes. Enzyme catalyze chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.
Are enzymes a type of acid and can they eat away flesh?
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze the chemical reactions inside the body. No, they are not acids, and no, they do not eat away flesh.
The enzymes that catalyze chemical reactions in living things are one type?
One type of catalyst. One type of protein. One type of biomolecule. There are many answers.
What type of chemical reactions do kinases catalyze?
Kinases are apart of the Transferases in the Enzymes of metabolism. Kinases transfers phosphate between substrates.
Why does enzyme specificity promote enzyme activity?
Because enzymes are specific and speed only one type of reaction.
Why does the body need so many different enzymes?
A large number of reactions occur in the cell, many of which requiring enzymes to work. From the creation of the ATP used to energize the cell to the creation of proteins from RNA, each new type of reaction needs its own enzyme to work, and often need dozens if not hundreds of that enzyme to do the reaction at the pace it needs.
What does lipase catalyze?
Lipase catalyzes the break down of lipids.
