Alqaas Chaudhry
12Sn Bio Cw
The Uses of enzymes in industry and medicine
Enzymes are Biological catalysts which allow the chemical reactions of metabolism to take place so therefore controlling the speed of the reaction. They are found in all living cells and are divided into two main groups, intracellular and extra cellular. Intracellular are found and work inside the cells, therefore are secreted inside the cell membrane, from where they control metabolism. Enzymes are complex globular proteins. Their long peptide chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds are wound, folded and bonded into a precise 3D structure, owing their activity to this particular shape. They are compounds of high molecular weight. Enzymes are truly amazing molecules as they are used within industry and medicinal purposes as they are thermostable as they can work at high and low temperatures in contrast to catalysts which can only work at high temperatures as this is very useful for the industrial processes to produce products with less heat so less energy and to make it cost efficient in industrial terms. (1) Enzymes can also work at many different ranges of pH as well as temperature changes and this is due to when they are immobilized in the industrial and medicine process. (3)
This essay will now look at particular enzymes in industry and medicine within their main uses. An enzyme that is very important in the textile industry it is Amyloglucosidase, also known as glucoamylase. In the textile industry amylases are used to remove starch-based size for improved and uniform wet processing. The advantage of these enzymes is that they are specific for starch, removing it without damaging to the support fabric (e.g. cotton and its blends). Amyloglucosidase removes glucose residues in a stepwise manner from the non-reducing end of starch polymer it hydrolyses the -1,4 and -1,6 bonds, although at slower rate with the -1,6 bond configuration. The Amyloglucosidase enzymes can also catalyse the condensation of glucose residues producing mainly maltose and isomaltose. Glucoamylases are sensitive to temperature, being inactivated at temperatures above 60 ºC. However for this purpose this does not really affect its use. The optimum pH level of these enzymes is 4.0-4.5. This is important as if you know the optimum rate the enzyme functions quicker and then more of the product needed will be made quicker and therefore be able to be sold sooner.
