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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...
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...
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways01:29

Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways

Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which provide...
Biosynthesis in Bacteria01:24

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
Catalytically Perfect Enzymes01:07

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 17, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
09:50

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade

Published on: August 14, 2019

Flavoenzymes: versatile catalysts in biosynthetic pathways.

Christopher T Walsh1, Timothy A Wencewicz

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. christopher_walsh@hms.harvard.edu

Natural Product Reports
|October 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Flavoenzymes utilize riboflavin coenzymes for diverse chemical reactions, including oxidations and oxygen transfers. These reactions are crucial for synthesizing complex molecules like lovastatin and enterocin.

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Monitoring the Reductive and Oxidative Half-Reactions of a Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase using Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometry
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Monitoring the Reductive and Oxidative Half-Reactions of a Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase using Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometry

Published on: March 18, 2012

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
09:58

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
09:50

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade

Published on: August 14, 2019

Monitoring the Reductive and Oxidative Half-Reactions of a Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase using Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometry
12:08

Monitoring the Reductive and Oxidative Half-Reactions of a Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase using Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometry

Published on: March 18, 2012

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
09:58

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Riboflavin-based coenzymes are essential for numerous enzymatic reactions.
  • Flavoenzymes catalyze critical substrate oxidations and reductions in biosynthetic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the chemical transformations enabled by flavoenzymes.
  • To understand the mechanisms of covalent adduct formation and oxygen transfer reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of flavoenzyme-catalyzed reactions.
  • Investigation of dihydroflavin reactivity with molecular oxygen.

Main Results:

  • Flavoenzymes perform diverse oxidations, including alcohol and amine oxidations, and desaturations.
  • Covalent adducts form at C(4a) and N(5) of flavin coenzymes.
  • Dihydroflavins react with oxygen to form flavin-4a-OOH, facilitating oxygen transfer reactions.

Conclusions:

  • Flavoenzymes are versatile catalysts for complex organic synthesis.
  • The reactivity of flavin coenzymes with oxygen enables various oxygenation reactions.
  • These reactions are vital for the biosynthesis of natural products.