What are enzymes? | Definition of Enzymes | Discovery of Enzymes |

HN Series

Q. Definition and discovery of Enzymes.
Ans. 

Meaning of enzyme: The term enzyme was coined from a Greek word means "levened" or in yeast".

Discovery: The first enzyme, discovered by Payen and Persoz in 1833 from germinating barley seeds, was named diastase.


Term used: The term enzyme was introduced by Wilhelm kuhne in 1877.

What are enzymes? | Definition of Enzymes | Discovery of Enzymes |


Definition: "The enzymes are "thermolabile biocatalysts" (i.e. easily destroy by heat deactivated), speedup chemical reactions but itself remain unchanged that is not consume during the reaction.



I. They are protein in nature, specific in function and coded by DNA.
II. These work both inside and outside of the cell.


Substrate: (Reactant)
The substance on which enzyme acts is called substrate which is usually smaller than enzyme.







Questions About Enzymes


  • What exactly are enzymes, and what is their main role in living organisms?

  • How would you define an enzyme in your own words?

  • Why are enzymes often called "biocatalysts"? What does that term mean?

  • Are enzymes consumed or changed during the chemical reactions they speed up? Explain.

  • What is the significance of enzymes being "thermolabile"?


  • Who were the scientists credited with the discovery of the first enzyme?

  • What was the name of the first enzyme discovered, and from what source was it isolated?

  • In what year was the first enzyme discovered?

  • Why was the discovery of diastase important for the field of biochemistry?


  • What is the chemical nature of enzymes? What are they primarily made of?

  • How does an enzyme's structure relate to its specificity?

  • Where do enzymes typically function within a cell, and where else can they be found working?

  • What is a substrate in relation to an enzyme? How do they interact?

  • How does DNA "code" for enzymes?


  • If enzymes are so easily destroyed by heat, what does this imply about the conditions necessary for life?

  • Can you think of any everyday examples where enzymes are at work (e.g., in food, cleaning products)?

  • How might a defect in an enzyme's DNA code affect its function and, consequently, the body?

0 Comments