EducationThe science

What are biological catalysts called? Enzymes as biological catalysts

The human body is called a biochemical plant for good reason. After every minute, thousands, tens and hundreds of thousands of processes of oxidation, splitting, reduction, and other reactions occur in it. What allows them to flow at such a huge speed, providing each cell with energy, nutrition and oxygen?

The concept of catalysts

Both inorganic and in organic chemistry very widely used special substances that can accelerate the course of chemical reactions in a few thousand, and sometimes millions of times. The name of these compounds is "catalysts". In inorganic chemistry, these are metal oxides, platinum, silver, nickel and others.

Their main action is the formation of time complexes with the participants in the reaction, by lowering the activation energy, the process is several times faster. After that, the complex decays, and the catalyst can be withdrawn from the sphere in the same quantitative and qualitative composition as before the beginning of the process.

There are two variants of catalytic reactions:

  • Homogeneous - accelerator and participants in one aggregate state;
  • Heterogeneous - accelerator and participants in different states, is the interface of phases.

In addition, there are also opposing compounds - inhibitors. They are aimed at slowing down the necessary reactions. So, for example, they allow reducing the amount of time for the formation of corrosion.

Biological catalysts are inherently different from inorganic ones, and their properties are somewhat specific. Therefore, in living systems, catalysis is different.

Enzymes - what is it?

It is proved that if the action of special substances accelerating the indicated processes was not carried out within living systems, then the usual apple in the stomach would be digested for about two days. For such an amount of time, the processes of decomposition and intoxication with rotting products would begin. However, this does not happen, and the fruit is completely processed within an hour and a half. Carry out this biological catalysts, which in large quantities are present in the composition of each organism. But what are they and what is the basis of such an action?

Biological catalysts of protein nature are enzymes. Their basis is a complex structural organization with a number of specific properties. Simply put, these are unique proteins that can reduce the activation energy of processes in living organisms and carry them at a speed exceeding the usual values of several million times.

There are many examples of such molecules:

  • Catalase;
  • amylase;
  • Oxidoreductase;
  • Glucose oxidase;
  • Lipase;
  • Invertase;
  • Lysozyme;
  • Protease and others.

Thus, we can conclude: enzymes are biological catalysts of protein nature, which act as strong accelerators, allowing thousands of processes in living organisms to be performed at very high rates. Their action is based on digestion, oxidation, reduction.

Similarities between inorganic and protein catalysts

Enzymes as biological catalysts have a number of properties similar to inorganic ones. These include:

  1. Only thermodynamically possible reactions are accelerated.
  2. Do not affect the displacement of chemical equilibrium in equilibrium systems, but equally accelerate both the direct and the inverse process.
  3. As a result, only products remain in the reaction sphere, the catalyst is not included in their number.

However, in addition to similarity, there are also distinctive features of enzymes.

Differences depending on nature

Biological catalysts have several specific features:

  1. High degree of selectivity. That is, one protein is able to activate only a certain reaction or group of like. Most often, the "enzyme-substrate of one process" scheme works.
  2. Extremely high degree of activity, because some types of proteins are capable of accelerating the reactions millions of times.
  3. Enzymes strongly depend on environmental conditions. They show activity only in a certain temperature range. The pH of the medium also strongly influences. There is a curve showing the values of the minimum, maximum and optimum for each enzyme.
  4. There are special compounds called effectors that are able to inhibit the nature of biological catalysts, or, conversely, to positively influence them.
  5. The substrate on which the enzyme works must be strictly specific. There is a theory that carries the name of a key and a lock. It describes the mechanism of action of the enzyme on the substrate. The catalyst, like a key, is built into the substrate by its active center, and the reaction begins.
  6. After the process, the enzyme is partially or completely destroyed.

Thus, it is obvious that the importance of protein catalysts is extremely high for living organisms. However, their action is subject to certain rules and is limited to the framework of environmental conditions.

Study of catalysis in school

Within the framework of the school program, catalysts are studied both in chemistry and in biology. In chemistry lessons, they are studied from the point of view of substances that make it possible to carry out industrial syntheses, to obtain a large number of various products. In biology classes, biological catalysts are considered. Class 9 implies the study of molecular biology and the fundamentals of biochemistry. Therefore, it is at this stage of education that students get the basics of knowledge about enzymes as active substances in the organisms of living beings.

At the lessons, experiments are conducted, confirming the chemical activity of these substances in certain temperature ranges and pH of the medium:

  • The study of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a catalyst on raw and cooked carrots;
  • Impact on meat (processed thermally and raw), potatoes and other products.

Enzymes in the human body

Every schoolboy, who is sufficiently educated and crosses the line of the middle level of education, knows what biological catalysts are called. Enzymes in the body have a strictly specific specialization. Therefore, for each process, one can name its catalyzing agent.

So, all the enzymes of the body can be divided into several groups:

  • Oxidoreductase, for example, catalase or alcohol dehydrogenase;
  • Transferase - kenase;
  • Hydrolases, important for digestion: pepsin, amylase, lipoprotein lipase, esterase and others;
  • Ligases, for example, DNA polymerase;
  • Isomerase;
  • Lyase.

Since all these compounds are of a protein nature, as well as a complex of vitamins in the composition, an increase in body temperature is fraught with the denaturation of the structure, and consequently the cessation of all biochemical reactions. In this case, the body is close to death. Therefore, high body temperature must be knocked down during illness.

Use of protein catalysts in industry

Often enzymes are used in different industries :

  • Chemical;
  • Textile;
  • Food.

On the shelves you can see cleaning products and washing powders containing enzymes - these are enzymes that improve the quality of washing clothes.

Why do we need biological catalysts?

To overestimate their significance is difficult. After all, they not only allow living organisms to live, breathe, eat, metabolize, but also enable us to destroy industrial waste, obtain medicines, protect and protect our health and the state of the environment.

Similar articles

 

 

 

 

Trending Now

 

 

 

 

Newest

Copyright © 2018 en.birmiss.com. Theme powered by WordPress.