The chemistry of enzyme action

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts. They not only bind molecules, but also provide a special environment in which the molecules are chemically modified. Enzymes cannot promote a reaction that is not energetically favourable, but by binding the reagents in the necessary orientation and in close proximity, they signi- 

By virtue of the amino acid side-chains, enzymes are able to provide a highly specific binding site for their substrates, anchoring these reagents in an appropriate manner and in suitable proximity so that reaction can occur, as well as providing any necessary acid or base catalyst for the reaction. In some cases, a further reagent, a coenzyme, must also be bound for 

Several types of bonding might be utilized to bind substrates to enzymes. These are analogous to the bondings that contribute to the secondary and tertiary structures of a protein and include the following non-covalent interactions  

In addition, we can meet examples of covalent bonding that are responsible for binding a substrate, where a functional group in the substrate reacts chemically with a protein side-chain functional group. Two important reactions are  

A large proportion of the substrates used in intermediary metabolism are in the form of phosphates. Phosphates are favoured in nature since they usually confer water solubility on the compound, and 

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Page, M. I. (ed.) (1984). The Chemistry of Enzyme Action. Elsevier, Amsterdam... 

Walsh, C. (1979). Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco Williams, A. (1984). In The Chemistry of Enzyme Action (ed. M. I. Page), Chap. 5. Elsevier, Amsterdam... 

M. J. Page, The chemistry of enzyme action, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984. 

Michael /. Page (Ed.), The Chemistry of Enzyme Action 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B. V. 

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