Some enzymes are good, some act poorly what are charateristics of a good enzyme?

In summary, enzymes have evolved to maintain a balance with other enzymes, with some acting as a bottleneck to control product buildup and others acting quickly to prevent substance consumption. Some enzymes are specific while others are promiscuous, allowing for variety in their functions.
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Yehia11
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As in Title, help much appreciated! thanks
 
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An enzyme that betters the chance of an organism surviving.
 
  • #3


Do you mean that some are fast and some are slow? Enzymes have evolved to maintain a balance with a whole lot of other enzymes. Some are slow because they need to act as a bit of a bottleneck to prevent too much of a particular product being generated, or too much of a molecule being consumed too quickly.

Some need to act very quickly to prevent buildup of a product eg carbonic anhydrase is an extremely fast enzyme that converts CO2 to HCO3-.

Additionally, some enzymes are very specific and act on one substrate only, whereas some are promiscuous and can act on a range of different substrates. Variety is the spice of life!

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

FM
 

Related to Some enzymes are good, some act poorly what are charateristics of a good enzyme?

1. What is an enzyme?

An enzyme is a type of protein that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions. It helps to speed up the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

2. What makes an enzyme "good"?

An enzyme is considered "good" if it has a high affinity for its substrate, meaning it can bind to the substrate easily and efficiently. It should also have a high specificity, meaning it only catalyzes a specific reaction. Additionally, a good enzyme should be able to function under a wide range of environmental conditions, such as temperature and pH.

3. How do enzymes act poorly?

An enzyme can act poorly if it has a low affinity for its substrate, meaning it cannot bind to the substrate effectively. This can be due to mutations in the enzyme's structure or changes in the environment. Enzymes can also act poorly if they are denatured, meaning their shape is altered and they can no longer function properly.

4. What are some characteristics of a good enzyme?

A good enzyme should have a high turnover number, meaning it can catalyze multiple reactions in a given amount of time. It should also be able to function in a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. Another important characteristic is stability, meaning the enzyme can remain functional for a long period of time without being degraded.

5. How are enzymes regulated in the body?

Enzymes can be regulated in the body through various mechanisms such as feedback inhibition, where the end product of a reaction inhibits the enzyme that catalyzes it. Enzymes can also be regulated by hormones or other signaling molecules that can activate or deactivate them. Additionally, enzymes can be regulated by changes in temperature and pH levels in the body.

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