Enzymes

=//__Enzymes__//=


 * __PROTEIN__** **–** Part of a group of macromolecules that are essential for the suitable function of an organism. Proteins control the cellular process of an Organism. Proteins act as the connection between cells by sending and receiving messages to enhance the defense of an organisms immune system. They contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and frequently sulfur. Proteins are essential for growth and the repair of tissue in an organism. The macromolecule is found in meats, fish, eggs, milk, and legumes.




 * __AMINO__** __**ACIDS**__ – Amino Acids are the “Building Blocks” of proteins and are key to the metabolism of an organism. There are 20 Amino Acids found within proteins. The chemical compound of an amino acid determines the biological activity in which a protein operates. Amino Acids are like the “Brain” of proteins, and proteins control all of the cellular process. Humans produce 10 of the 20 amino acids, and the others must be provided through food consumption. However, plants make all of the necessary amino acids in order to survive
 * __FUNCTIONAL__** - The function of an enzyme is to bind different reaction between molecules. This means that when an organism acquires some type of disease, enzymes react to bind different cells to speed up the recovery process. The active site of an enzyme is where the enzyme brings the cells in order to form a recovery process.
 * __ENZYMES__** - The main components that help speed up chemical and cellular reactions inside an organism. Enzymes consist of proteins, amino acids, and various polypeptides. An enzyme lowers the energy used by cells to react. The specific reactant of an enzyme is called the substrate. Substrate fits into a particular region of the body, or of an organism, which is called the active site.
 * __DENATURATION__** – This is when loss of normal shape of a protein occurs due to heat or other factors. For example heat denatures an egg; the proteins in the egg white react by becoming a solid. This happens because the polypeptide chains become twisted up with one another.
 * __ACTIVATION__** __**ENERGY**__ – The energy necessary to start a chemical reaction. An outside source such as electricity can be used to start the initial reaction. The amount of energy a molecule is carrying also affects the chemical reaction.
 * __CATALYST__**- “a chemical that promotes a reaction between other chemicals by reducing the energy required to activate the reaction; may take part in the reaction but emerges in its original form.” “Catalysts can be divided into two main types - heterogeneous and homogeneous. In a heterogeneous reaction, the catalyst is in a different phase from the reactants. In a homogeneous reaction, the catalyst is in the same phase as the reactants.”
 * __REACTANTS__**- Starting material in a chemical reaction.
 * __PRODUCT__****-** Forms from reaction and recycles enzyme. The result of the substrates binding on the active site of an enzyme is the product.
 * __SUBSTRATES__**- Molecules on which enzymes act. Substrates bond together when they attach to the enzyme at the active site.
 * __ACTIVE SITE__**- The portion of an enzyme that attaches to the substrate through weak chemical bonds. After the substrates are attracted to the active site, the product is produced an released from the enzyme.

__**How Enzymes Work**__
 * 1) Subtrates are atracted to the active site of an enzyme.
 * 2) Subtrates bind to the active site.
 * 3) The enzyme changes shape to fit the substrates.
 * 4) The product is formed from the bonded substrates and the enzymes realease the product
 * 5) The enzymes can catalyze and reverse the reaction.



__**Enzymes in Action**__

//Wounds// When a person bleeds, even the smallest of cuts could be fatal if it weren’t for enzymes. Enzymes have the very important job of bringing platelets to open wounds on the body. Without platelets, organisms would bleed to death after receiving the smallest of wounds, but platelets make it possible for organisms to naturally clot bleeding cuts. Platelet would have no way of getting to the wound if there were no enzymes to carry the platelets.



//Digest food// Digestion enzymes digest food, and food enzymes come from raw foods and start digestion. Enzymes take molecules such as; proteins, fats, carbohydrates, starches and sugars and distributes them to muscle, tissue, and all other parts of the body. Without enzymes food would sit in the stomach and nutrients would not be able to disperse to different parts of the body as energy.



Other Sources: http://www.fruitarian.com/ac/Enzymes.htm http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/E/Enzymes.html http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/enzyme.html

Sources: "About Enzymes." __Fruitarian__. 22 Nov. 2000. 2 Oct. 2007 . "Enzymes." 9 Dec. 2004. 1 Oct. 2007 . Leja, Darryl. "Enzyme." 3 Oct. 2007 .