Tag: the origin of cells and cell division

Ribozymes or RNA enzymes are catalytic RNA molecules. The first ribozyme discovered was self splicing group I intron. The second catalytic RNA was RNAase P which separates tRNA from hn RNA at their 5' ends. Peptidyl transferase involved in translation of proteins is also catalytic RNA. Telomerase is a ribonulceoprotein  enzyme. It is involved in replication of terminal DNA or telomeres.

A restriction enzyme or restriction endonuclease or molecular scissors is an enzyme used in genetic engineering that splices DNA at or near specific recognition nucleotide sequences, known as restriction sites. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Enzymes are biological catalysts which catalyse the biochemical reactions in living systems. Majority of enzymes are proteins. A small minority of enzymes are catalytic RNA molecules. These catalytic RNA molecules are called ribozymes. These catalytic RNA molecules catalyze reactions like splicing of introns during processing of RNA in eukaryotic mRNA.

Co-enzymes tightly or covalently bonded to enzymes are called prosthetic groups, e.g., pyridoxal phosphate, heme, biotin. Heme is a prosthetic group containing ferrous ion. It is important for a number of biologically important hemoproteins such as myoglobin, cytochrome oxidase, catalase and peroxidase. Thus, the correct answer is option E.

Prosthetic groups are tightly bound cofactors. Peptidase enzymes hydrolyze peptide bonds. Peptidase enzymes require manganese ion for their activity as prosthetic group.

Some enzymes require metal ions for their activity. Tyrosinase is a copper containing enzyme that catalyzes the production of melanin and other pigments.

Hydrolase enzymes break large molecules into small molecules with the help of hydrogen and hydroxyl group of water molecules. The phenomenon is known as hydrolysis. Digestive enzymes in our body help to break down macromolecules of food into smaller molecules by the process of hydrolysis. So, digestive enzymes belong to the class Hydrolases. Thus, the correct option is B.

Simple enzymes consist of only proteins and catalyze their substrate specific reactions. Urease is an enzyme which is only made up of protein and it functions to catalyze the hydrolysis of urea which results in the formation of ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Starch is used as food reserves in plants. It is a polymer of glucose. It is formed by the attachment of glucose unit by glycosidic bonds. The basic formula of starch is (C$ _6$H$ _{10}$O$ _5$)n.