Multiple choice

Which of the following catalytic mechanisms is found in enzymes?

  1. Catalysis by proximity and orientation

  2. Electrostatic catalysis

  3. Covalent catalysis

  4. Catalysis by bond strain

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Covalent catalysis involves the substrate forming a transient covalent bond with residues in the active site or with a cofactor. This adds an additional covalent intermediate to the reaction, and helps to reduce the energy of later transition states of the reaction. This mechanism is found in enzymes such as proteases like chymotrypsin and trypsin, where an acyl-enzyme intermediate is formed.

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