The importance of enzymes is lowering activation energy (the amount of energy required for the reaction to occur), so that the chemical reactions necessary can proceed sufficiently quickly and within an acceptable temperature range.
During catalysis, the enzyme will bind temporarily to one or more of the substrates (reactants) of they reaction they will catalyse, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. In doing so, the activation energy is reduced and thus quickening the reaction. This can also be explained with the use of a diagram, where the product of the reaction has a lower energy than the substrate;
Enzymes are widely used in both medicine and industry.
Some commercial application of enzymes;
In the field of medicine, enzymology is a critical aspect of understanding the cause of diseases. Most genetic diseases are a result of a particular enzyme deficiency. Enzymes are used in many aspects of medicine, most notably, analytic tests, diagnosing diseases wound therapy, anti-inflammatory reagents, drug manufacture and to aid digestion.
An example of diagnosing diseases is, when diagnosing a disease, detecting the presence of enzymes where they should not be is a vital diagnostic of disease. For example, liver disease can be confirmed by a simple blood test, which detects whether or not vital enzymes only normally found in the liver, have leaked from the damaged or diseased liver into the bloodstream. Testing the blood for these can therefore confirm if there is liver damage.
As I have just explained the absence or presence of certain enzymes in the blood can be tested to confirm a diagnosis. There are also tests in which enzymes themselves are a component of the technique. An example is when using a reagent stick such as Clinistix™ to test for glycosuria (the presence of glucose in the urine, this is often an indication of diabetes). When the clinistic is dipped into the urine, the glucose oxidase (enzyme) attached to the stick reacts with the urine to form gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide.
Glucose
Glucose + O2 + H2O Gluconic acid + H2O
Oxidase
The peroxide then reacts with a colourless chemical, also on the stick, chromogen. This is oxidised to form a coloured product, which is then catalysed by a peroxidase.
Peroxidase
H2O2 + Chromogen H2O2 + Coloured dye.
Enzymes are also widely used in medicines for their anti-inflammatory reagents. One example in particular is Lasonil™, this is an ointment used to treat sprains, bruises and other swellings. This contains the enzyme hyaluronidase, an enzyme that acts on hyaluronic acid (a section of the connective tissue substance which helps bond cells together). The effect of this is that it makes it easier for the tissues to reabsorb the fluid from the affected area, and thus ease the swelling.
