Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. Like all proteins, enzymes are made up of smaller building blocks known as amino acids. These amino acids are the monomers of proteins, and they link together in specific sequences to form the unique three-dimensional structures of enzymes.
Amino acids consist of a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side chain (R group) that varies between different amino acids. There are 20 standard amino acids that can combine in various ways to form an array of proteins, including enzymes.
Some examples of enzymes include:
- Amylase: Breaks down starch into sugars and is found in saliva.
- Protease: Breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids and is involved in digestion.
- Lipase: Helps digest fats by breaking them down into fatty acids and glycerol.
- DNA polymerase: Synthesizes DNA molecules from nucleotides during DNA replication.
Each enzyme has a unique sequence of amino acids that determines its specific function and structure. This diversity in amino acid sequences gives rise to the vast array of enzymes essential for various biological processes in the body.