Lecture 11. Introduction to Enzymology

Thursday 21 February 2019

Introduction to enzymology. General catalytic principles.

Reading: Lehninger - Ch.6, pp.187-198.

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Summary

General catalytic principles

General properties of enzymes. Classification by reaction type. Stereospecificity. Geometric (steric) and electrostatic complementarity. "Lock-and-key" and "induced fit" models for enzyme-substrate recognition. Reaction coordinate diagrams for enzyme mechanisms; activation free energy and transition state theory. Drawing reaction mechanisms.

See the Enzymology: An introduction topics page for:

General properties of enzymes. Enzyme classification. Enzyme specificity: Enzyme-substrate complementarity. Cofactors, coenzymes, and prosthetic groups. Activation energy and reaction coordinate diagrams. Transition state theory; reduction of ΔG‡ by catalysts. Catalytic mechanisms: General acid/general base catalysis, covalent catalysis, metal ion catalysts, proximity and orientation effects. Enzymes preferentially bind the reaction transition state.