Thankyou Mr.T-Rav, and also HighTide!
So you said that amylase and other enzymes do not work that way. Because amylase breaks down carbohydrates in our mouth, is this a catabolism? Also is it true that enzymes like amylase collide with the substrate, destabilises the carb's bonds and hence have broken down the carbohydrate into it's constituent simpler sugars?
What about anabolism and enzymes? Do the two substrates both bind to the active site, and so what does the enzyme actually do to them? Does it just 'glue' (not a good term, but you know what I mean) them together, or could you say it forms new bonds between the two reactants and hence they are joined together?
Cheers
It is catabolism as it is a breakdown reaction. Complex molecules are broken down into simpler units. I think Mr. T-Rav was highlighting that there are multiple ways that enzymes can work. The way I highlighted with bringing substrates closer together and thus increasing the chance of successful collision is only one way, and can basically be attributed only when there is more than one reactant. What Mr. T-Rav was saying is that for enzymes catalyzing reactions with one reactant (i.e. Starch in this case), amylase can break the glycosidic linkages in starch and create glucose monomers. The enzyme does not bring two molecules close together.
For VCE you just need to know that when the substrates come together with the enzyme, they form the enzyme-substrate complex and the product is created. In anabolic reactions, when the complex, bonds can be formed or rearranged to create the product.
I understand what you mean but you can't necessarily say it glues them together, because that might suggest that it is one product being formed. I suppose you are meaning that it is due to the formation of bonds, but remember it can also be due to rearrangement. Multiple products being formed in an anabolic reaction (i.e. photosynthesis).
Home
Help
Search
Login
