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Enzymes

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 Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis

Introduction to Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis

For many years, scientists thought that enzyme-substrate binding took place in a simple "lock-and-key" fashion. This model stated that the enzyme and substrate fit together perfectly in one instantaneous step. However, current research supports a more refined view scientists call induced fit. The induced-fit model expands upon the lock-and-key model by describing a more dynamic interaction between enzyme and substrate. As the enzyme and substrate come together, their interaction causes a mild...

Introduction to Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis

Introduction to Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis

For many years, scientists thought that enzyme-substrate binding took place in a simple "lock-and-key" fashion. This model stated that the enzyme and substrate fit together perfectly in one instantaneous step. However, current research supports a more refined view scientists call induced fit. The induced-fit model expands upon the lock-and-key model by describing a more dynamic interaction between enzyme and substrate. As the enzyme and substrate come together, their interaction causes a mild...

Introduction to Enzymes

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...

Ribozymes

Ribozymes

The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can be...

Catalytically Perfect Enzymes

Catalytically Perfect Enzymes

The theory of catalytically perfect enzymes was first proposed by W.J. Albery and J. R. Knowles in 1976. These enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions at high-speed. Their catalytic efficiency values range from 108-109 M-1s-1. These enzymes are also called 'diffusion-controlled' as the only rate-limiting step in the catalysis is that of the substrate diffusion into the active site. Examples include triose phosphate isomerase, fumarase, and superoxide dismutase.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Published on: April 8, 2020

Artificial enzymes based on supramolecular scaffolds.

Zeyuan Dong¹, Quan Luo, Junqiu Liu

¹State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Chemical Society Reviews

|September 14, 2012

Summary

Supramolecular artificial enzymes offer a simpler approach to understanding complex natural enzyme catalysis. This review explores recent advancements in designing these artificial enzymes for diverse applications.

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Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

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Published on: April 8, 2020

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Supramolecular Chemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Natural enzymes are complex nanometer-sized molecules with intricate 3D structures and conformational states that hinder mechanistic understanding.
Supramolecular interactions govern enzyme folding, self-assembly, and catalytic functions.
Understanding enzyme mechanisms at a molecular level is challenging due to conformational diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent developments in supramolecular artificial enzymes.
To explore how supramolecular scaffolds can simplify enzyme complexity.
To highlight the potential applications of artificial enzymes.

Main Methods:

Review of recent literature on supramolecular artificial enzymes.
Analysis of designs based on synthetic macrocycles and self-assembled nanostructures.
Discussion of supramolecular principles applied to enzyme mimicry.

Main Results:

Supramolecular artificial enzymes provide a simplified model for studying enzyme catalysis.
Designs range from synthetic macrocycles to self-assembled nanomaterials.
Artificial enzymes demonstrate potential in various industrial and biomedical fields.

Conclusions:

Supramolecular artificial enzymes are a promising alternative for unraveling enzyme catalysis.
Their design based on supramolecular scaffolds simplifies structural complexity.
These artificial enzymes hold significant potential for applications in manufacturing, food industries, biosensors, and pharmaceuticals.