Enzymes free energy

Calculation of Conformational Free Energies for a Model of a Bilobal Enzyme Protein kinases catalyze the transfer of phosphate from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to protein substrates and are regulatory elements of most known pathways of signal transduction. 

Fig. 11.37 Free energy profile for the nucleophilic attack of water on CO2 (a) in aqueous solution and (b) in the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. (Graphs redrawn from Aqvist J, M Fothergill and A Warshel 1993. Computer Simulai of the COj/HCOf Interconversion Step in Human Carbonic Anhydrase I. Journal of the American Chemical Society 115 631-635.)...

A final important area is the calculation of free energies with quantum mechanical models [72] or hybrid quanmm mechanics/molecular mechanics models (QM/MM) [9]. Such models are being used to simulate enzymatic reactions and calculate activation free energies, providing unique insights into the catalytic efficiency of enzymes. They are reviewed elsewhere in this volume (see Chapter 11). 

A free energy study of malate dehydrogenase [29] using semiempirical QM-MM methods has also been reported, and that shidy also attributes many of the benefits to simulation of enzyme reactions found in the BPTP shidy. 

For biochemical reactions in which hydrogen ions (H ) are consumed or produced, the usual definition of the standard state is awkward. Standard state for the ion is 1 M, which corresponds to pH 0. At this pH, nearly all enzymes would be denatured, and biological reactions could not occur. It makes more sense to use free energies and equilibrium constants determined at pH 7. Biochemists have thus adopted a modified standard state, designated with prime ( ) symbols, as in AG°, AH°, and so on. For values determined... 

FIGURE 16.1 Enzymes catalyze reactions by lowering the activation energy. Here the free energy of activation for (a) the uncatalyzed reaction, AGu, is larger than that for (b) the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, AG,". 

In thermodynamic terms, a spontaneous reaction AG < 0) may proceed only slowly without enzymes because of a large activation energy (EJ. Adding enzymes to the system does not change the free energy of either the substrates or products (and thus does not alter the AG of the reaction) but it does lower the activation energy and increase the rate of the reaction. 

The Relationship Between Enzyme Kinetics and Apparent Activation Free Energy... 

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