ENZYME Meaning and
Definition
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An enzyme is a type of protein that acts as a biological catalyst in living organisms. It is a specialized molecule that speeds up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Enzymes are crucial to the functioning of cells and play a fundamental role in various metabolic processes.
Enzymes function by binding to specific molecules called substrates and converting them into different molecules, known as products. They achieve this by facilitating the breaking and forming of chemical bonds between atoms, leading to the conversion of substrates into products.
Enzymes are highly specific, meaning that each enzyme acts on a particular substrate or a group of closely related substrates. This specificity is attributed to the unique structure of the enzyme's active site, where the substrate binds to undergo the reaction. The active site provides a favorable environment for the reaction to occur, allowing the enzyme to catalyze the reaction efficiently.
Enzymes are involved in numerous physiological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and cellular signaling. They are essential for the breakdown of food into nutrients, the synthesis of molecules required for growth and repair, and the elimination of waste products from the body.
Enzymes are often named based on the type of reaction they catalyze, followed by the suffix "-ase." For example, the enzyme amylase breaks down starch, and protease breaks down proteins.
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An organic substance of colloid structure, secreted by the body cells, which acts as a ferment, inducing chemical changes in other substances by catalysis, itself remaining apparently unchanged in the process. An effort has been made to introduce order in the nomenclature of the enzymes by calling each after the name of the body upon which it acts, adding the termination ase.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Top Common Misspellings for ENZYME *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for ENZYME
Etymology of ENZYME
The word "enzyme" comes from the Greek words "en" which means "in" or "within" and "zyme" which means "leaven" or "ferment". The term was coined in the late 19th century by German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne to describe the substances in biological systems that catalyze chemical reactions. The term "enzyme" was chosen to indicate the transformative and catalytic nature of these substances, similar to the process of fermentation in beer or bread-making.
Similar spelling words for ENZYME
- ANZMMI,
- ENSMM,
- younousmi,
- enemy,
- UNASEM,
- Unseam,
- -ence,
- anusim,
- anosmia,
- UNNSM,
- apo-enzyme,
- UNSMA,
- UNCEM,
- unsame,
- winsome,
- UNESAM,
- insheim,
- INSEM,
- anti-enzyme,
- D-ENZYME,
- encima,
- enzyme-linked,
- Anisim,
- Inseam,
- unism,
- yawnsome,
- eonism,
- wensum,
- inseem,
- Onesimo,
- ANSMM,
- ENSMA,
- co-enzyme,
- ENSAAMA,
- INSSM,
- Inosemia,
- exo-enzyme,
- enzym,
- Unsym-,
- Unisom,
- ENGEN,
- ansemia,
- insomeway,
- Enausma,
- INSIM,
- Wynsome,
- UNCIM,
- ownsome,
- ansem,
- enzymatic,
- Enseam,
- owenism,
- eunicem,
- onesome,
- enjoyment,
- Anisum,
- UNOSOM,
- unawesome,
- inazuma,
- INSAM,
- ENSIM,
- UNSIM,
- unisem,
- Anazyme,
- INSME,
- Insume,
- Unseem,
- UNSYM,
- X-INSUM,
- ionesome,
- Anesum.
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