Applications Of Enzymes

Applications Of Enzymes

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Oct 25, 2024 09:38 AM IST

Enzymes are important machinery which play an important role in chemical reactions and all metabolic reactions. They work as basics for all the reactions that we study in biology in most of the major chapters. That's why it has become important for us to understand basic applications of biology and its importance.

Application of Enzymes Basics

Enzymes are also known as biological catalysts that help in speeding up the chemical reactions which take place inside living organisms. They play a very important role in chemical reactions especially when it comes to the industrial application of enzymes. Some of the better points are discussed below regarding the application of enzymes:

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

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

  • The application of enzymes in biochemistry also becomes important when we talk about medicines and their benefits to our bodies.

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Different types of Enzymes

Enzymes come in six different varieties and are primarily categorized into various groups according to their functions. Major enzyme names are mentioned below.

  • Lyases

  • Ligases

  • Isomerases

  • Hydrolases

  • Transferases

  • Oxidoreductases

The most crucial jobs that enzymes perform are many bodily processes, including digestion, respiration, excretion, reproduction, liver and kidney function, as well as many other biological processes.

Application of Enzymes in the Biochemistry and Industries

Enzymes play an important role in biochemistry where they act as catalysts in the biochemical reactions that take place. It is also used to recognise diseases and their therapeutic procedure.

There are also several applications of enzymes in biochemistry and industries for organic synthesis and production of essential compounds in medicines and research. Some of the basic application of enzymes in biochemistry is discussed below:

  • 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.

Other Applications for the Usage of Enzymes

Some of the other major Applications of enzymes are discussed below:

  • Enzymes are the organic instruments of nature and are necessary for every type of life on earth.

  • In the production and improvement of 400 to 500 common consumer and commercial goods, enzymes are used.

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

  • 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, biofuels and other types of car fuel, cleaning supplies, and energy production facilities.

Types of Questions Asked from Application of Enzymes

During exam preparation, different types of questions about the Application of Enzymes are asked. The table below contains the various patterns of questions asked in other exams.

Exam Type

Types of Questions Asked

Weightage

CBSE

  • Basic role of enzymes as biological catalysts.

  • Enzyme classification (oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, etc.).

  • Enzyme specificity and factors affecting enzyme activity (temperature, pH).

  • Industrial applications of enzymes (food processing, detergents).

3%

NEET

  • Enzyme kinetics (Michaelis-Menten equation, inhibition types).

  • Role of enzymes in metabolic pathways (glycolysis, Krebs cycle).

  • Enzymes in genetic engineering (restriction enzymes, DNA polymerase).

  • Enzymes in medical diagnostics (ELISA, glucose oxidase for diabetes testing).

3%

Paramedical

  • Enzyme-based therapies (proteolytic enzymes for burns, fibrinolytic enzymes for clot dissolution).

  • Microbial enzymes in pharmaceuticals (lipases, proteases).

  • Diagnostic enzymes in disease testing (liver enzymes, cardiac enzymes).

  • Therapeutic enzymes (DOPA for Parkinson’s disease, tyrosinase).

2%


Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Application of Enzymes

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding the application of enzymes are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Applications of Enzymes

TAME: Therapeutic, Analytical, Metabolic, Environmental

  • T: Therapeutic applications (enzymes in medicine, e.g., proteases for burns, fibrinolytics for clots).

  • A: Analytical tools (enzymes in diagnostic tests like ELISA and glucose oxidase for diabetes).

  • M: Metabolic processes (enzymes in metabolic pathways, e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle).

  • E: Environmental uses (enzymes in bioremediation to break down pollutants).

Enzyme Classes

HOPED: Hydrolases, Oxidoreductases, Transferases, Lyases, Isomerases

  • H: Hydrolases (break down substrates with water, e.g., proteases).

  • O: Oxidoreductases (catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions, e.g., dehydrogenases).

  • P: Transferases (transfer functional groups, e.g., kinases).

  • E: Lyases (add or remove groups without hydrolysis, e.g., decarboxylases).

  • D: Isomerases (catalyze isomerization changes, e.g., racemases).

Enzyme Kinetics

MR.K: Michaelis-Menten, Rate, Km, Vmax

  • M: Michaelis-Menten equation (describes rate of enzymatic reactions).

  • R: Reaction rate (depends on substrate concentration and enzyme activity).

  • K: Km (Michaelis constant, substrate concentration at half Vmax).

  • V: Vmax (maximum reaction velocity when the enzyme is saturated).

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

T.P.H: Temperature, pH, Inhibitors

  • T: Temperature (increased temperature generally increases activity until denaturation).

  • P: pH (each enzyme has an optimal pH for activity).

  • H: Inhibitors (competitive and non-competitive affect enzyme activity).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Describe a few activities that include enzymes?

The following are some crucial tasks performed by enzymes: It is essential for enzymes to  carry out various types of activities, including biological ones. Here enzymes help us in digestion, respiration, and sometimes in excretion, reproduction, liver as well as in kidney function also, etc.

2. Why are enzymes used in industrial processes as they continue to run?

The usage of enzymes in industrial processes includes the brewing, baking, detergent, fermented product, pharmaceutical, textile, and leather processing industries. Here are a few examples of how enzymes are used in various processes.

3. Are enzymes present in bread?

One of the most often used methods of food processing in the world is producing bread. Enzymes' usefulness in quality assurance and production efficiency is demonstrated by their usage in the manufacture of bread. In order to promote softness, freshness, and shelf life of bread, amylase is added to the flour, either by itself or in conjunction with other enzymes. In addition, xylanase and lipase are employed to condition and stabilise the dough, and glucose oxidase and lipoxygenase are added to enhance the dough's whiteness and strength.

4. Discuss any four applications for enzymes?

Enzymes are utilised in a variety of industrial processes, including baking, brewing, detergents, fermented foods, medicines, textile processing, and leather tanning.

5. Describe briefly the extensive use of enzymes?

Enzymes are widely used in science and analytical processes to calculate substrate concentrations and assess the catalytic activity of enzymes found in biological samples. The usage of dangerous radioactive elements in various immunoassays, which are used to measure a range of proteins and hormones, has been replaced or reduced thanks to advancements in enzyme technology.

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