Why is it important to understand the structure of enzymes? The specificity of structure has a correlation with the function of the enzymes. Why enzymes play such important catalytic activity in the body cell has in its core the factor of its structural dimension. The three dimensional structure or the quaternary structure works behind the major enzymatic activities inside the cell.



Basis of enzymes

Whenever enzymes are discussed, you basically relate them as proteins. But to be more specific about the structure and dimension of enzymes, it has to be defined as globular proteins. Structurally the divisions are done as primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. As long chains of amino acid units, the structure of enzyme has different chemical bonds to hold them together. The bonds are generally known as peptide bonds. And these bonds come in a folding shape due to the hydrophobic and disulphide bonds interacting with each other.

Structure of amino acid

To understand the dimension and characteristic of the enzyme, you will have to get a clear picture of the structure of the amino acids that actually form the chain. Each amino acid has a specific structure and accordingly the function is determined. When the three dimensional structure of the enzyme is built the individual properties of the amino acids or the proteins are lifted to take a complex form. This is often regarded as protein complex in the field of Biochemistry. And this is actually what an enzyme structure is all about.

Structure-function basic relationship

Primarily what we know about enzymes is that they are catalysts in a biochemical reaction. They play a vital role in the cell's metabolic function. Being catalyst one thing is predetermined that the enzymes are not supposed to get reacted in the reaction. They will definitely act on the rate of the reaction but will there be any change in their structure when they are present as catalysts in a process?

The alteration of the structure of enzyme is known as denaturing process. When heat is applied to the enzymes its three dimensional structure is denatured. In most cases the activity of the enzyme is diminished.

Role specificity

The enzymes play their specific roles as catalysts in any chemical reaction. Let's look at an example. Amylase is an enzyme that plays the role of a catalytic factor in the hydrolysis of starch. What is starch? It can be defined as a polymer of glucose. Now can we take it for granted that any polymer of glucose will use amylase in its hydrolysis? The answer is a big no because cellulose in spite of being a polymer of glucose can't be hydrolyzed by amylase enzyme. The rule of specific role is followed.