Why are enzymes soluble in water?

[Dark Horse]

Hi all, this question is in context with fibrous and globular proteins. The textbook says that it is important for enzymes to be soluble in water, and I am curious as to why they have to be solublke. I mean, couldnt they carry out their function if they were insoluble? Thanks

[herzy]

normally they are facilitating reactions between substances dissolved in water, so they also need to be water soluble. first chapter of biol, water is an important biolmolecule because it is the medium for most organic chemical processes. etc etc.

if you look at the functions of most enzymes, you'll find they mostly occur in the cytoplasm. if you think of how an enzyme works (substrate goes into enzyme) it makes sense that they are also water soluble. also, hydrophilia would aid with transportation of said enzymes, and have other cool side properties like that

[herzy]

*cough* not saying biology is cool...

[vexx]

*cough* not saying biology is cool...

But it really is! So damn interesting!

biology is amaazing, you all must enjoy it so much and have so much fun for me since i'm no longer doing it.  hahaaa

[herzy]

*cough* not saying biology is cool...

But it really is! So damn interesting!

ahaha i know, i love biology i thought it was awesome. year 12 was dull without it

[herzy]

sigh i wish i'd done that. oh well im doing it this year lol

[TrueLight]

hey can i ask what umep is?

is it just first year uni bio or a seperate thing for vce students?

[herzy]

well it is a separate thing, but its meant to be first year bio. its doctored a bit though to make it easier/'more suitable' for VCE students, but the uni's recognise it as uni biol (so it counts towards a degree)

[TrueLight]

ah ok

so its a different unit compared to bio1011 or such?

like only vce students do it ... its not crammed together with uni students?

[vexx]

ah ok

so its a different unit compared to bio1011 or such?

like only vce students do it ... its not crammed together with uni students?

umm the enhancement programs are the exam same program as the uni students, same exams, pracs and assignments, but they have enhancement centres for most, which is kinda like a few lectures crammed in one (for chem its like this).

some enhancement subjects are actually done with uni students, so it's exactly the same as them.

muep/umep is not easier or anything, just taught in a slightly different way some of the time, but usually its pretty much the same (except for learning 3 lectures in 2hrs..)

[herzy]

correct. not that i did it. its still the same 'unit' i believe, just a different 'stream'? i know that even if you do 'uni biol' at monash, when you go to monash you have to apply for credits to be transfered (i.e. recognition of your marks/the fact you did the unit) so it is different.  although i think for other subjects its a bit different (e.g. philosophy? they might all be together im not sure)

[herzy]

sick more or less what i said - i know for chem though they left out some parts of the uni course for 'brevity'

[vexx]

^ yeah you need to apply to show you've done the unit, i think at monash it's easy since they can just look your name up.

umm our muep course is exactly the same as the uni course.
we are going to do 3'ish lectures per week, the exact same lectures, so we cover the same.
we literally fly through it though! so fast.. haha

[TrueLight]

ah so its pretty much exactly the same thing

mmm so i guess you'll be cutting up some cane toads... lol
and doing some crappy essay 

[TrueLight]

haha alright

best of luck