Tag: enzymes

Based on the type of reaction catalyzed, the international union of biochemist have classified enzymes into six major classes- Oxidoreductase, Transferase, Hydrolase, Lyase, Ligase and Isomerase.
Transferase is the general name for the class of enzymes that enact the transfer of specific functional groups (e.g. a methyl or glycosyl group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor).

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme present in plant and animal tissues that catalyzes the production of melanin and other pigments from tyrosine by oxidation, as in the blackening of a peeled or sliced potato exposed to air. In animals it is found inside melanosomes which are synthesised in the skin melanocytes.

Cytochromes are iron-porphyrin or heme proteins discovered by MacCunn. Cytochromes are bound to inner mitochondrial membrane and are primarily responsible for the generation of ATP via mitochondrial electron transport system. Whereas all other cytochromes have iron only, the cytochrome a possesses both iron and copper. With iron it picks up electrons and through copper it hands over electrons to oxygen.

ATPase are a class of enzymes that catalyze the dephosphorylation of ATP into ADP and a free phosphate ion. This dephosphorylation reaction releases energy, which the enzyme harnesses to drive other chemical reactions that would not otherwise occur. This process is widely used in all known forms of life. Such enzymes are integral membrane proteins anchored within biological membranes (plasma membrane), and move solutes across the membrane, typically against their concentration gradient.

Isomerases are the enzymes which catalyse transfer of groups within molecules to yield isomeric bonds. As aldose and ketose sugars are isomers, their interconversion is catalyzed by isomerases.

Certain enzymes carry oxidation reduction reactions. Oxidation is defined as the chemical process which involves loss of electron whereas reduction is the process in which a substrate accepts electron.
An oxygenase is any enzyme that oxidizes a substrate by transferring the oxygen from molecular oxygen O$ _2$ (as in air) to it.

J.B. Sumner isolated ureases from the jack beans and proved enzymes to be proteins, that could be isolated in crystalline form.

The peptidyl transferase is an aminoacyltransferase, it performs the primary enzymatic function of the ribosome, which forms peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids using tRNAs during the translation process of protein biosynthesis. Peptidyl transferase activity is carried out by the ribosome. Peptidyl transferase activity is not mediated by any ribosomal proteins but by ribosomal RNA (rRNA), a ribozyme. 

Lyase are the enzymes which catalyze breakdown reactions without hydrolysis. Lyases are classified as EC 4 in the EC number classification of enzymes. Lyases can be further classified into several subclasses : EC 4.1 includes lyases that cleave carbon-carbon bonds, such as decarboxylases (EC 4.1.1), aldehyde lyases (EC 4.1.2), oxo acid lyases (EC 4.1.3) and others (EC 4.1.99).

Enzymes are biological catalysts which catalyze biological reactions. They do not modify the chemical equilibria in any manner but simply make the attainment of equilibrium faster. Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes reversible reaction between carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid. This enzyme is one of the fastest enzyme. It is especially abundant in human erythrocytes.