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Related Concept Videos

Enzymes02:34

Enzymes

Inside living organisms, enzymes act as catalysts for many biochemical reactions involved in cellular metabolism. The role of enzymes is to reduce the activation energies of biochemical reactions by forming complexes with its substrates. The lowering of activation energies favor an increase in the rates of biochemical reactions.
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...
Introduction to Enzymes01:22

Introduction to Enzymes

The use of enzymes by humans dates to 7000 BCE. Humans first used enzymes to ferment sugars and produce alcohol without knowing that this was an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Wilhelm Kuhne coined the term 'enzyme' in 1877 from the Greek words ‘en’ meaning ‘in’ or ‘within’ and ‘zyme’ meaning ‘yeast.’
Most enzymes are proteins that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed. Enzymes contain one or more active sites that bind the substrates and convert them into products. Many enzymes also...
Enzymes and Activation Energy01:13

Enzymes and Activation Energy

The activation energy (or free energy of activation), abbreviated as Ea, is the small amount of energy input necessary for all chemical reactions to occur. During chemical reactions, certain chemical bonds break, and new ones form. For example, when a glucose molecule breaks down, bonds between the molecule's carbon atoms break. Since these are energy-storing bonds, they release energy when broken. However, the molecule must be somewhat contorted to get into a state that allows the bonds to...
Introduction To Enzymes01:22

Introduction To Enzymes

The use of enzymes by humans dates to 7000 BCE. Humans first used enzymes to ferment sugars and produce alcohol without knowing that this was an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Wilhelm Kuhne coined the term 'enzyme' in 1877 from the Greek words ‘en’ meaning ‘in’ or ‘within’ and ‘zyme’ meaning ‘yeast.’
Most enzymes are proteins that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed. Enzymes contain one or more active sites that bind the substrates and convert them into products. Many enzymes also...
Enzymes and Activation Energy01:13

Enzymes and Activation Energy

The activation energy (or free energy of activation), abbreviated as Ea, is the small amount of energy input necessary for all chemical reactions to occur. During chemical reactions, certain chemical bonds break, and new ones form. For example, when a glucose molecule breaks down, bonds between the molecule's carbon atoms break. Since these are energy-storing bonds, they release energy when broken. However, the molecule must be somewhat contorted to get into a state that allows the bonds to...
Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns01:29

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...

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Conformational flexibility of soybean lipoxygenase is coupled to crystal solvent content in serial crystallography.

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Computational Method for the Detection of Communication Pathways in Enzymes that Correlate with Experimentally Defined Thermal Activation Networks.

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Correlated Motion-Based Residue Network Analysis Reveals the Distal Thermal Activation in Soybean Lipoxygenase.

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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
09:58

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

How do enzymes activate oxygen without inactivating themselves?

Judith P Klinman1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. klinman@berkeley.edu

Accounts of Chemical Research
|May 4, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nature

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Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition
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Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition

Published on: October 3, 2018

Expression and Purification of Nuclease-Free Oxygen Scavenger Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase
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Expression and Purification of Nuclease-Free Oxygen Scavenger Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase

Published on: November 8, 2019

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
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Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition
08:31

Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition

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Expression and Purification of Nuclease-Free Oxygen Scavenger Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase
10:14

Expression and Purification of Nuclease-Free Oxygen Scavenger Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase

Published on: November 8, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Oxygen activation by enzymes is crucial for biological processes.
  • Understanding enzyme mechanisms is key to controlling oxygen reactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the oxidative half-reactions of glucose oxidase and soybean lipoxygenase.
  • To identify key features in oxygen activation by enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed kinetic analyses of enzyme oxidative half-reactions.
  • Comparative studies of various O2-activating enzymes.

Main Results:

  • Identified a rate-limiting first electron transfer to O2, followed by rapid subsequent steps.
  • Discovered non-metal binding sites and channels facilitating controlled O2 reactivity.
  • Demonstrated minimization of deleterious side reactions through controlled oxygen pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Enzymes utilize specific strategies for controlled oxygen activation.
  • Rate-limiting electron transfer and specialized O2 channels are key features for efficient and safe oxygen utilization in biological systems.