Questions and Answers
What is enzyme specificity?
Enzyme specificity is the concept that each enzyme catalyzes only one kind of reaction.
Which of the following are types of enzyme specificity? (Select all that apply)
What is stereospecificity or optical specificity?
Stereoisomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in structural configuration, and enzymes act only on one isomer.
What does reaction specificity refer to?
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Explain substrate specificity.
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What is absolute substrate specificity?
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Describe relative substrate specificity.
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What is broad substrate specificity?
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Study Notes
Enzyme Specificity
- Enzyme specificity dictates that each enzyme catalyzes only one type of reaction.
Types of Enzyme Specificity
- Three main types:
- Stereospecificity (optical specificity)
- Reaction specificity
- Substrate specificity
Stereospecificity (Optical Specificity)
- Involves enzymes acting on specific stereoisomers, which have the same molecular formula but distinct structural configurations.
- Enzymes like L amino acid oxidase and D amino acid oxidase target L and D amino acids, respectively.
- Mechanism involves three regions on the substrate molecule complementarily binding to three enzyme regions.
- Isomerases do not exhibit stereospecificity as they specialize in converting isomers.
Reaction Specificity
- Refers to a scenario where the same substrate may participate in different reactions, each catalyzed by different enzymes.
- Example includes amino acids that can undergo reactions like transamination, oxidative deamination, decarboxylation, and racemization, each requiring a unique enzyme.
Substrate Specificity
- Varies by enzyme, categorized into three types:
- Absolute
- Relative
- Broad
Absolute Substrate Specificity
- Certain enzymes exclusively interact with a single substrate.
- Example: Glucokinase processes glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate; urease converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Relative Substrate Specificity
- Some enzymes react with structurally related compounds, influenced by specific groups or bonds.
- Example: Trypsin hydrolyzes peptide bonds involving arginine or lysine while chymotrypsin cleaves bonds in aromatic amino acids like phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.
Broad Specificity
- Enzymes with broad specificity can act on closely related substrates.
- Example: Hexokinase works on glucose, fructose/mannose, and glucosamine, but not on galactose.
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Description
Test your knowledge on enzyme specificity with these flashcards. Learn about the various types of enzyme specificity, including stereospecificty, reaction specificity, and substrate specificity. Perfect for biology students or anyone interested in biochemistry!
