enzymes
Proteins speeding reactions
Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions in living organisms.
They act as biological catalysts—speeding up processes without being consumed themselves.
Digestive enzymes break down food; other enzymes copy DNA, build muscle, or detoxify the liver.
Each enzyme typically acts on a specific molecule: lactase breaks down lactose.
Industrial applications include laundry detergents and food processing.
Starch-digesting enzyme
- lipaseFat-dissolving enzyme
- proteaseProtein-cleaving enzyme
- lactaseMilk sugar enzyme
- kinasePhosphate-transferring enzyme
phosphatase · polymerase · nuclease · pepsin · trypsin · telomerase · ligase · hydrolase
Underlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- cofactorEnzyme-activating compound
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
activation · kinetics · specificity · feedback · product · reaction rate · turnover · Michaelis-Menten
Mouth's digestive secretion
- stomachDigestive organ below chest
- gastricOf the stomach
- intestinalOf the gut
- pancreaticOf the insulin gland
bile · pepsin · trypsin · pancreatin · absorption · hydrolysis · duodenum · jejunum
Microbial sugar conversion
- brewingBeverage preparation process
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
- biofuelFuel from organic sources
paper · leather · food processing · baking · cheese · meat tenderizer · starch conversion · dairy
Organic compounds forming proteins
- peptideShort amino acid chain
- polypeptideAmino acid polymer
- protein foldingChain becoming functional structure
- chaperoneProtective adult companion
domain · conformation · biosynthesis · ribosome · translation · zymogen · proenzyme
amylase
Starch-digesting enzyme
kinase · phosphatase · polymerase · nuclease · pepsin · trypsin · telomerase · ligase · hydrolase · transferase
substrate
Underlying supporting material
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- cofactorEnzyme-activating compound
inhibitor · activation · kinetics · specificity · feedback · product · reaction rate · turnover · Michaelis-Menten · affinity
saliva
Mouth's digestive secretion
- stomachDigestive organ below chest
- gastricOf the stomach
- intestinalOf the gut
pancreatic · bile · pepsin · trypsin · pancreatin · absorption · hydrolysis · duodenum · jejunum · ileum
fermentation
Microbial sugar conversion
- brewingBeverage preparation process
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
biofuel · paper · leather · food processing · baking · cheese · meat tenderizer · starch conversion · dairy · winemaking
amino acids
Organic compounds forming proteins
- peptideShort amino acid chain
- polypeptideAmino acid polymer
- protein foldingChain becoming functional structure
chaperone · domain · conformation · biosynthesis · ribosome · translation · zymogen · proenzyme
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- stomachstomach, stomach acid, gastric acid, stomach lining, fundus
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, genetic testing, gene, DNA sequencing
- cell biologycell membrane, cell division, cytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- fermentationyeast, brewers yeast, wine fermentation, wine yeast, wild yeast
enzymesinhibitors
Agents blocking biological processes
blockers · deactivators · suppressors · poisons · denaturants
- digestive enzymesFood-processing biological catalysts
- plant enzymes
- liver enzymeCatalyst in hepatic tissue
- CYP enzymesLiver enzymes metabolizing drugs
- debranching enzymeProtein cleaving glycogen branches
- enzyme action