Applications of Enzymes - Types & Faqs

Imagine a world wherein bread has to be chewed like dough, milk turns sour only in a few hours, and each and every meal painfully passes through one's system. It sounds like the end of the world but actually happened if it weren't for enzymes. They are amazing biological catalysts that quicken chemical reactions and, in the process, become very essential in various activities sustaining life. They give possibilities from digestion down to the replication of DNA. Fundamentally, enzymes work everywhere—be it in yeast that ferments our favorite drinks, in detergents that clean our clothes, or in medicines that help us heal. In the present paper, we will view this wondrous world of enzymes and try to define and explain what they are and how they work.

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This Story also Contains

1. How Enzymes Work
2. Properties of Enzymes
3. Applications of Enzymes:
4. Types of Enzymes and Their Functions
5. Real-Life Applications of Enzymes
6. Some Solved Examples
7. Summary

We shall further consider the various types of enzymes that are at work and observe in detail their roles and contribution to multiple biochemical processes. In the end we will consider practical applications of enzymes in everyday life and scientific research to demonstrate values of the areas of medicine, food production, and environmental science. By the end of this chapter you'll start to appreciate these tiny powerhouses, and the dramatic impacts they make on nature and technology.

How Enzymes Work

Enzymes are specialty proteins that function as catalysts in biochemical reactions—that is, they speed up reactions but they are not consumed in the reaction.

Each enzyme is specific to one reaction or type of reaction. It often binds to a substrate, the molecule upon which the enzyme acts. This interaction lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction to allow it to go much faster. They play crucial roles in metabolism, cell signaling, and in DNA replication. They are usually named for the substrate they work on, generally ending in "-ase" — for example, lactase breaks down lactose. Their efficiency and specificity make enzymes of extreme importance for the delicate balance of biochemical processes in living organisms—to sustain life as we know it in almost any conceivable range of environments.

Enzymes are naturally occurring simple or conjugated proteins which act as biological catalysts in living enzymes. Without enzymes, the living process will be too slow to sustain life. Chemically all enzymes are globular proteins. However, some enzymes are also associated with a non-protein component called prosthetic group or co-factor for their activity.

Properties of Enzymes

Some common properties of enzymes are:

• Specificity: They are highly specific in their action. Each enzyme catalyses only one chemical reaction. For example, the enzyme urease hydrolyse urea to NH₃ and CO₂.
• Efficiency: Enzymes are very efficient catalysts. They can speed up the rate of a reaction by factors of up to 10²⁰.
• Optimum temperature and pH: They are active at moderate temperature and at moderate pH.
• Small quantity: Even a small amount of enzymes can be highly efficient.

Applications of Enzymes:

Enzymes are widely used for:

• In the manufacture of beer and wine by the fermentation of carbohydrates.
• In the production of cheese by coagulation of milk.
• In the manufacture of sweet syrup from corn starch.

Some Enzymes, the substrates on which they act on and the products are summarised below :

• Diastase acts on Starch and converts it into Maltose.

Starch $\xrightarrow{\text { Diastase }}$ Maltose

• Maltase acts on Maltose and converts it into Glucose.

Maltose $\xrightarrow{\text { Maltase }}$ Glucose

• Zymase acts on Glucose and converts it into Ethyl alcohol and Carbon dioxide.

Glucose $\xrightarrow{\text { Zymase }} \mathrm{C}_2 \mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{OH}+\mathrm{CO}_2$

• Invertase acts on Sucrose and converts it into Glucose and Sucrose.

Sucrose $\xrightarrow{\text { Invertase }}$ Glucose + Fructose

• Urease acts on Urea and converts it into Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide

Urea $\xrightarrow{\text { Urease }} \mathrm{NH}_3+\mathrm{CO}_2$

• Pepsin acts on Proteins and converts it into Amino Acids

Proteins $\xrightarrow{\text { Pepsin }}$ Amino Acids

Types of Enzymes and Their Functions

They are classified according to the type of reaction they catalyze, and accordingly, their function. Major ones include:

1. Hydrolases: The term refers to the enzyme-catalyzing breakdown of the compound by adding water. Examples include lipases, which break down fat into fatty acids and glycerol, and proteases, which digest proteins into amino acids.

2. Oxidoreductases: These are enzymes facilitating oxidation-reduction reactions. One example is alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that converts alcohol into acetaldehyde.

3. Transferases: This group includes enzymes that transfer functional groups from one molecule to another. Of the most important functions, kinases play a role in transferring phosphate groups in all types of energy transfer and signalling pathways in the cell.

4. Isomerases: This group includes enzymes that rearrange the molecular structure in some manner. Example: Phosphoglucose isomerase converts glucose-6-phosphate into fructose-6-phosphate in the glycolytic pathway.

5. Ligases: These are enzymes that join two molecules together, usually using ATP. One example is DNA ligase, an enzyme needed in the process of DNA replication and repair.

All these types of enzymes shed light on diversified functionality in biological systems, which range from metabolic pathways to energy production and cellular function.

Real-Life Applications of Enzymes

They not only form the basis of biological processes, but have also far-reaching applications in medicine, industry, and the environment. Enzymes in Medicine Laboratory tests; in various treatments, for example, thrombolytic enzymes are used to break down blood clots in heart attack or stroke patients. Enzyme replacement is also available as a treatment for many genetic disorders in which the body does not produce a particular enzyme.

Enzymes play a huge role in the processing and preservation of food in the industry. Amylases are used for the hydrolysis of starch into sugar for beer and bread manufacture. This improves their flavor and texture. Proteases come into use during tenderization of meat and cheese manufacture. Further, enzymes in detergents help in the breakdown of stains and make them more effective cleaners.

Yet another critical aspect of enzymes is related to the environment. Bioremediation uses enzymes to digest pollutants in soil and water, helping in the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. The use of enzymes in biofuels denotes their ability to convert biomass into fermentable sugars, hence making production easier for renewable energy sources.

Enzyme research has been instrumental in the growth of advanced understanding in academia regarding biochemistry and molecular biology. Enzymologists study kinetics, mechanisms, and regulation of enzymatic actions that may further open up innovations in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Case studies include the discovery of the CRISPR technology, whereby understanding the function of an enzyme revolutionized genetic engineering and therapeutic interventions.

Recommended topic video on (Enzymes )

Some Solved Examples

Example 1
Question:Which of the following enzymes are responsible for biological oxidation and reduction reactions?
1) Trypsin
2) Dehydrogenase
3) Lactose
4) Amylase

Solution:
Dehydrogenase belongs to the group of oxidoreductases that catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions. These enzymes are crucial for various metabolic processes. Therefore, the correct answer is option (2).

Example 2
Question: Enzymes like kinases, transaminases, and chlorophyll synthase belong to which class of enzymes?
1) Oxidoreductase
2) Hydrolases
3) Isomerases
4) Transferases

Solution:
Transferases are enzymes responsible for transferring functional groups from one molecule to another. Kinases, for instance, catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups. Hence, the correct answer is option (4).

Example 3
Question: Which of the following classes of enzymes splits molecules into two by the action of water?
1) Lyases
2) Isomerases
3) Hydrolases
4) Ligases

Solution:
Hydrolases are enzymes that catalyze the splitting of a molecule into two by the action of water. Examples include glycosidases and esterases. Therefore, the correct answer is option (3).

Example 4
Question: Which of the following classes of enzymes can catalyze the breaking of various chemical bonds without hydrolysis?
1) Lyases
2) Ligases
3) Transferases
4) Hydrolases

Solution:
Lyases are enzymes that catalyze the addition, removal, or splitting of a molecule without the involvement of water. Examples include decarboxylases and aldolases. Thus, the correct answer is option (1).

Summary

Summary: Enzymes are biological catalysts crucial in chemical reactions occurring in living things. These range from the majority of life activities.

The realization of these roles and classes brings their relation to metabolism and cellular activity into the limelight. Examples of these elements are hydrolases, oxidoreductases, transferases, isomerases, and ligases. Such practical applications of enzymes go way beyond biology to have an impact on health, food production, environmental sanitation, and biotechnology. From diseases treatment to perfecting industrial processes, enzymes play their role in our lives and scientific development. Still in the process of discovering all their potential, enzymes go on to make up a topic at the crossroads of nature and technology—that is, underlining the amazing design of life itself. Their ability to catalyze key reactions guarantees continuity in life and stimulates innovation in a host of diversified fields; hence, enzyme research holds a central position in biological and industrial knowledge. Further research into the mechanism by which enzymes work and their many applications will open vistas, further underpinning their relevance to our present world.