Enzymes – The Catalysts of Life
Enzymes play a crucial role in catalyzing biochemical reactions, significantly enhancing reaction rates essential for life processes. The chapter delves into enzyme monitoring techniques, catalytic mechanisms, classification, kinetics, and the significance of ribozymes, underscoring the profound implications for biotechnology and medicine. Engineers are equipped to utilize this understanding for innovation in various fields including drug development and metabolic engineering.
Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- Enzymes are biological catalysts that increase reaction rates without being consumed.
- The Michaelis-Menten model is fundamental to understanding enzyme kinetics, focusing on parameters like Vmax and Km.
- Ribozymes demonstrate that RNA can also have catalytic properties, reshaping the understanding of molecular biology.
Key Concepts
- -- Enzyme Kinetics
- The study of the rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions and the factors affecting these rates.
- -- MichaelisMenten Equation
- A mathematical description of the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, relating initial velocity to substrate concentration.
- -- Ribozymes
- Catalytic RNA molecules that can catalyze biochemical reactions, similar to protein enzymes.
Additional Learning Materials
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.