Enzymes are normally complex there-dimensional globular proteins and therefore subjected to the same controls as all protein. The following describe some important properties of enzymes:
ü Enzymes are specific. Each particular enzyme binds only to specific substrate. An enzyme must recognize the correct substrate then take it or merge it with another substrate to form one or more specific products.
ü Most enzymes have high turnover numbers. Enzymes are very efficient. They generally work very rapidly.
ü Enzymes are reusable as they are not destroyed while catalyzing reactions.
ü An enzyme can catalyses in a forward and backward direction. The direction of metabolic reactions which are reversible depends on the relative concentrations of the substrate and the products.
ü As enzymes are proteins, they can be denatured. High temperatures of 40 oC or above can denature most enzymes. Upon denaturation, the structure of enzymes is permanently altered resulting in an irreversible loss of activity.
ü Enzymes also affected by and can be denatured by changes in pH. The rate at which the inactive form become active or vice versa is determined by the chemical environment inside the cell.
Keyword :
Turnover number : The number of molecules of substrate which acted upon by a molecule of enzyme per second.
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