Page 176 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry
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2. An Enzyme’s Job
Substrates and Enzymes OKay! The first important
thing to know is that
At last, it’s time a particular enzyme
to talk about
can only work with
enzymes— a certain “partner”
The keys
material.
to chemical
reactions! enzyme
The enzyme’s “partner”
For example, Protein The digestive starch
Pepsin, which is a
digestive enzyme enzyme
that breaks down
α-amylase, which
proteins in the is contained in
stomach...
saliva...
...will only break down Fat ...will only break down
protein and will never starch and will not
break down fat.
break down DNA.
Enzyme substrate enzyme-substrate Reaction
complex product
reaction does
not occur
Enzyme another Complex cannot
substance be formed
The “partner substance” that
an enzyme works with is
called the substrate.
The fact that the substrate is
determined by the enzyme is
called substrate specificity.
162 Chapter 4
