Structural View of Biology
Enzymes
Enzymes are Nature's chemists, performing all of the chemical transformations needed for life. Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions by bringing together all of the necessary chemical tools in the proper place. They typically have an "active site" that captures the chemicals that will be modified, holding them in the perfect orientation to perform the chemical change. Researchers have separated the many types of enzymes into a few functional classes, based on the reactions that they perform. Click on any of the sub-categories below to explore further.
Oxidoreductases - Shuffling Electrons
Oxidoreductases are experts in oxidation and reduction, where individual electrons are added or removed from molecules during a chemical reaction.
Transferases - Moving Chemical Groups
Transferases are the cell's master builders, taking chemical groups and transferring them from one place to another.
Hydrolases - Breaking Chemical Bonds with Water
Hydrolases break molecules into two pieces by using a molecule of water, which is also broken in half during the reaction.
Lyases - Breaking Chemical Bonds without Water
Lyases break molecules into two pieces, but without using water like the hydrolases.
Isomerases - Changing Molecular Shape
Isomerases shuffle atoms around in a molecule, changing its shape.
Ligases - Making Connections
Ligases connect two molecules, creating a new chemical bond.
Ribozymes - Enzymes Made of RNA
Most enzymes are built of protein, but several RNA enzymes have also been discovered.
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