Properties of Enzymes:
- Enzymes are needed in a minute quantity for the acceleration of biochemical reactions.
- Enzymes exhibit specificity in their reactions. Each enzyme can act on a particular substance only.
- Enzymes act within a narrow range of pH and temperature. So they are referred to as thermolabile compounds.
- Enzymes can act either way in a biochemical reaction because biochemical reactions are reversible.
- Enzymes can be destroyed or inactivated by a number of substances like cyanide, iodo acetic acid, malonic acid, etc. The substances capable of hampering enzymatic reactions are called enzyme inhibitors.
- Enzymes work in teams, making cell metabolism a continuous process.
- Classification of enzymes. ‘Enzymes are classified into six major groups based on type of functions.
They are :-
- Oxide-Reductases
- Transferases
- Hydrolases
- Lyases
- Isomerases
- Ligases
(1) Oxide-Reductases:
These are enzymes catalysing oxidation and reduction reactions. These oxidation and reduction reactions are generally referred to as redox reactions.
(2) Transferases:
These enzyme accelerate reactions involving transfer of functional groups from one compound to another compound.
(3) Hydrolases:
These are enzymes capable of accelerating hydrolytic reactions. Breaking down of large molecules with the addition of water is called hydrolysis. Enzymes involved in hydrolytic reaction are referred to as hydrolases.
(4) Lyases:
These enzymes catalyse reactions involving breaking of large molecules without addition of water.
(5) Isomerases:
These enzymes catalyse reactions involving rearrangement of molecule structure of substrate to form an isomer. Hence they catalyse isomerisation reactions they are termed as isomerases.
(6) Ligases:
These enzymes accelerate synthetic reactions like polymerisation.
