Enzymes

[Fromage]

Enzymes

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Post by Fromage » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:52 pm

"Like all catalysts, enzymes work by lowering the activation energy for a reaction and thus dramatically accelerating the rate of the reaction."

That's what wikipedia says about enzymes. Could somebody give me a specific example or two of things that couldn't happen without enzymes speeding up the process? I think that would make it easier for me to understand & remember.

[Oscerot]

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Post by Oscerot » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:58 pm

Digestion, for one.

Without enzymes, the food would just sit in your stomach forever. Nothing would be broken down as a result; therein nothing would be absorbed by the body; therein you'd die.

[Fromage]

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Post by Fromage » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:39 pm

So without enzymes digestion isn't possible at all? Not even very slowly? Hmm.... didn't know that. Thanks.

[Oscerot]

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Post by Oscerot » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:06 am

Digestion relies on enzymes.

There are carbohydrase enzymes, lipidase enzymes, and protein digesting enzymes which break down the food molecules. Without them, it would seem impossible to digest food.

Also, if I remember correctly, an enzyme is also responsible for the triggering of the mechanical digestion in the stomach of the food. "Pepsin" I believe the enzyme is called. It's an allosteric enzyme.

[kjle]

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Post by kjle » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:45 am

well chemical digestion would be impossible, but don't forget mechanical digestion, i.e. stomach churning, chewing food, etc.

But in reality, there's no way that mechanically everything could be broken down small enough to be absorbed.

[Oscerot]

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Post by Oscerot » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:58 am

Isn't mechanical digestion triggered by Pepsin, which is an enzyme itself?

[sdekivit]

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Post by sdekivit » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:24 pm

Isn't mechanical digestion triggered by Pepsin, which is an enzyme itself?

no pepsin doesn't trigger mechanical breakdown, that does the nervous system in respons to seeing, smelling and tasting food before it enters te stomach.

[sachin]

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Post by sachin » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:47 pm

Enzymes are mediators of biological system .......

[Dustfinger]

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Post by Dustfinger » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:52 pm

Enzymes are biological catalysts ?

[sachin]

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Post by sachin » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:09 pm

Ya, thats rigght.....

[Dustfinger]

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Post by Dustfinger » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:13 pm

I know !

[sachin]

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Post by sachin » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:16 pm

Gheeeee.............Whats funny?????????