What are enzymes
Enzymes are substances that make life possible. They are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the human body. No mineral, vitamin or hormone can do any work without enzymes. They are the manual workers that build our bodies from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
How enzymes work
Essential points about enzymes :
- all enzymes are proteins
- each enzyme has a specific catalytic action
- their normal activity depends on their environment
- abnormal conditions cause reduced activity
Enzymes are globular proteins - their molecules are round in shape. They have an
area - usually thought of as a pocket-shaped gap in the molecule - which is
called the active site.
Some enzymes are found inside cells (intracellular enzymes), and some -
especially digestive enzymes - are released so they have their effects outside
the cell (extracellular enzymes).
The accompanying diagrams are intended to illustrate a generalised account
of the action of digestive enzymes.
Enzyme Deficiency