Applications Of Enzymes

What are Enzymes?

The reaction catalysts of biological systems, enzymes, made of highly specialized proteins. Enzymes have extraordinary catalytic power. They have a high degree of specificity for their substrates and they accelerate chemical reactions tremendously.

With the exception of a few classes of catalytic RNA molecules, all enzymes are proteins. Their catalytic activity depends on their protein conformation. If an enzyme is denatured, catalytic activity is lost. If an enzyme is broken down into its component amino acids, its catalytic activity is always destroyed. Thus the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of enzymes are essential to their catalytic activity.

Types of Enzymes

Many enzymes have been named by adding the suffix “-ase” to the name of their substrate or to a word or phrase describing their activity. Enzymes are divided into six classes based on the type of reaction catalyzed.

Application of Enzymes

The study of enzymes has immense practical importance. In some diseases, especially inheritable genetic disorders, there may be a deficiency or even a total absence of one or more enzymes. Enzymes are also important practical tools in chemical engineering, food technology, and agriculture.

Medicine and Healthcare

• Enzymes are used in blood tests and the detection of diseases such as glucose oxidase in the case of diabetes.

• Fibrinolytic enzymes like nattokinase are used in the treatment of thrombosis.

• Enzymes are also used in the treatment of diabetes while testing the disease and looking for its detection.

• Proteolytic enzymes help in the removal of dead tissues and treat burnt areas.

• Lipase is also used in producing active alcohols and acids.

• Tyrosinase and DOPA are important enzymes which are used in Neurotherapy for treating diseases like Parkinson's disease.

Industry

There are several applications of enzymes in industries for organic synthesis and production of essential compounds in medicines and research.

• Enzymes like amylase and proteases are studying the fermentation process of baking and some dairy products.

• They are also utilised in a wide range of technical processes, including the creation of dishwashing soaps and detergents, recycling paper and paper goods to remove ink, and laundering clothes to remove stains and lengthen the life of the fabric.

• Enzymes are used to make a wide range of food products, beverages, animal nutrition, household goods, cleaning supplies, and energy production facilities

Agriculture & Environment

• By creating environmentally benign goods, enzymes are effective tools that support a clean environment in many ways.

• Bioremediation includes enzymes which are used in the degradation of substances such as oil and industrial chemicals in the environment.

• Enzymes also find application in wastewater treatment because they enhance the rate of decomposition of organic matter.

• Enzymes transform biomass into biofuels including ethanol hence providing a better option in comparison to the fossil products.

Biotechnology

• DNA polymerases and DNA ligases are essential enzymes used in gene cloning, PCR and DNA repair studies.

• Restriction endonucleases act as molecular scissors that cut DNA at specific sites, producing fragments with sticky or blunt ends. These fragments are inserted into vectors, enabling gene cloning and genetic engineering.

• The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) uses enzymes attached to antibodies or antigens to detect the presence of specific proteins, hormones, or pathogens. It is widely used in medical diagnostics, such as for HIV detection and pregnancy tests.

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

Enzymes require specific conditions in order to function properly. Any alteration in the conditions may slow down or completely stop the activity of the enzymes.

• Temperature: Enzyme activity generally increases with rising temperature because molecules move faster and collide more frequently. However, beyond an optimum temperature, which sharply decreases activity.

• pH: Each enzyme has an optimum pH where it functions best. Deviations from this range alter the ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds holding the enzyme’s structure, leading to reduced efficiency or complete inactivation.

• Substrate concentration: At low substrate concentration, the reaction rate increases proportionally as more enzyme-substrate complexes form.

• Enzyme concentration: Higher enzyme concentration provides more active sites for substrates, increasing the reaction rate.

Enzymes NEET MCQs (With Answers & Explanations)

Important topics for NEET exam are:

• Types of Enzymes

• Applications of Enzymes

• Factors affecting Enzyme activity

Practice Questions for NEET

Q1. The active site of the enzyme is present in which level of organization of proteins (enzymes)?

1. Primary

2. Secondary

3. Tertiary

4. Quaternary

Correct answer: 3) Tertiary

Explanation:

The active site of an enzyme is at the tertiary level of protein organization. The tertiary structure is the general three-dimensional shape of a protein, which is created through the folding of its polypeptide chain. An active site is a region within this structure where an enzyme interacts with its substrate to catalyze a chemical reaction.

Hence, the correct option is 3) Tertiary.

Q2. Consider the following statements A, B, and C. Which of the following options accurately represents the statements?

Statement A: All enzymes exhibit a proteinaceous nature.

Statement B: Certain competitive inhibitors are frequently employed to manage bacterial pathogens.

Statement C: The active site of an enzyme is formed through the intricate folding of the protein's tertiary structure.

1. Statements A and B are correct.

2. Statements B and C are correct.

3. Statements A and C are correct.

4. All of the above

Correct answer: 2) Statements B and C are correct

Explanation:

Statement B states that some competitive inhibitors are commonly used to control bacterial pathogens. This statement is accurate because competitive inhibitors can bind to the active site of an enzyme and compete with the substrate, effectively inhibiting the enzyme's activity. In the context of bacterial pathogens, competitive inhibitors can be employed to target specific enzymes necessary for bacterial survival or growth, providing a means of controlling the pathogens.

Statement C asserts that the active site of an enzyme is formed through the intricate folding of its protein's tertiary structure. This statement is also accurate. The active site of an enzyme is the region where substrate molecules bind and undergo catalysis. It is typically formed by specific amino acid residues that come together in the folded structure of the protein, which includes the tertiary structure. The precise folding of the protein is crucial for creating the functional active site and facilitating enzyme-substrate interactions.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Statements B and C are correct.

Q3. Select the correct statement

1. All enzymes are proteins

2. All proteins are enzymes

3. Enzymes and proteins are same molecule

4. Protein helps in building enzymes

Correct answer: 1) All enzymes are proteins

Explanation:

As we have learned

The enzymes are actually proteins with catalytic power which hastens the rate of a given metabolic reaction.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) All enzymes are proteins.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Enzymes

• Biomolecules

• Cell Cycle And Cell Division