Enzymatically catalyzed reactions are a fundamental process in biological systems. These reactions require the presence of an enzyme that acts as a catalyst to accelerate the rate of the reaction. The enzyme achieves this by reducing the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur. In enzymatically catalyzed reactions, the reactants are given a specific name that reflects their function and the type of reaction that is taking place.
The reactants in an enzymatically catalyzed reaction are commonly referred to as substrates. A substrate is defined as a substance that is acted upon by an enzyme. In enzymatically catalyzed reactions, substrates are typically organic molecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. These molecules are broken down into smaller molecules or are combined to form larger molecules.
The specific substrate that is acted upon by the enzyme is known as the active site. The active site is a specific region on the enzyme that binds to the substrate and catalyzes the reaction. The substrate is bound to the active site through a series of chemical interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions. Once the substrate is bound to the active site, the enzyme can then catalyze the reaction.
Enzymatically catalyzed reactions can be divided into two main types: catabolic and anabolic. Catabolic reactions involve the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules, while anabolic reactions involve the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules. In catabolic reactions, the substrate is broken down into smaller molecules, while in anabolic reactions, the substrate is combined to form larger molecules.
The name given to the reactants in an enzymatically catalyzed reaction depends on the type of reaction that is taking place. In catabolic reactions, the substrate is often referred to as the reactant or the substrate. For example, in the enzymatically catalyzed reaction of glucose, the substrate is glucose, and the enzyme is glucose oxidase. Glucose oxidase catalyzes the breakdown of glucose into two molecules of hydrogen peroxide and one molecule of gluconic acid.
In anabolic reactions, the substrate is often referred to as the precursor molecule or the building block. For example, in the enzymatically catalyzed reaction of amino acids, the substrate is the amino acid, and the enzyme is aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes the synthesis of a specific amino acid and tRNA molecule, which are then combined to form a polypeptide chain.
In conclusion, enzymatically catalyzed reactions are an essential process in biological systems. The reactants in these reactions are given a specific name that reflects their function and the type of reaction that is taking place. The substrate is the specific molecule that is acted upon by the enzyme, and its name depends on whether the reaction is catabolic or anabolic. The active site is the specific region on the enzyme that binds to the substrate and catalyzes the reaction. Understanding the names and functions of the reactants in enzymatically catalyzed reactions is crucial to understanding the processes that occur in biological systems.