Question
Question: What type of biomolecule are enzymes?...
What type of biomolecule are enzymes?
Solution
Enzymes are present in our body helping in various processes, starting from the breaking down of carbohydrates in the digestion to cell replication. Enzymes are the constituents of the various amino acids and may change due to various physical conditions.
Complete answer:
Enzymes are major proteins and some exist in RNA form, which are known as the catalytic RNAs or ribozymes, but no enzymes exist in lipid form. The major biomolecules present in the enzyme are proteins. The enzymes activity, functioning, and potential may vary due to several factors that include both the chemical and the physical factors. These factors include pH, temperature, etc.
-The enzymes when exposed to high temperature will denature as they are made up of proteins. The enzymes present in the case of that organism that lives in either extremely hot (temperature is greater than 80-degree Celcius) or extreme cold environmental conditions will denature.
-There are certain exceptional enzymes that live in the body of those organisms that live in the extreme hot or cold conditions so that these organisms can perform their metabolic functions. These enzymes are resistant to extreme heat and cold and will not get denatured.
-The functioning of various enzymes mainly depends upon the pH of their surroundings and acts as the major physical property. For enzymes to function maximally and properly the optimal pH needs to be maintained which ranges from 6.8 to 7.2.
-The other type of enzyme is called holoenzyme, here the enzymes will become functional when it joins together with the non-protein part.
-Examples of enzymes are amylase, pepsin, trypsin, lipase, which are responsible for the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Note:
The enzymes react to their particular receptors only and are highly specific in nature. They sometimes show a 'lock and key' activation system and have particular functional and chemical properties. Not only higher temperature but lower temperature will also affect the activity of the enzyme, as the lower temperature lowers the activation energy of an enzyme resulting in the slow functioning of the enzyme.