Chapter 22, Problem 39P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The mechanism for conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate ion in presence of carbonic anhydrase has to be proposed.

Concept introduction:

• Enzyme is a protein that is a biological catalyst.  The reactant in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme is called substrate.  In the enzyme, a pocket like cleft is present called active site where it binds the substrate.
• Some amino acid chains in the enzyme act as base, acid and nucleophilic catalyst. Many of the enzymes contain metal ions at the active site which acts as catalyst.
• Acid Catalyst helps in increasing the rate of a particular reaction by the donation of a proton to substrate.
• Base Catalyst helps in increasing the rate of a particular reaction by the removal of a proton to substrate.
• Nucleophilic catalysis helps in increasing the rate of a particular reaction by the formation of a covalent bond with substrate
• Metalloenzyme: An enzyme which has a tightly bound $Z{n}^{2+}$ metal ion