2007-10-17 03:13:58 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
In actuality, it has been found that not all enzymes are as singular in function as biology textbooks would have you believe.
Especially in critters like amphibians, which live in highly variable environments and have variable body temperatures, there are some enzymes that are used when the body is in ideal conditions - but if it gets cool, the amphibian uses a different enzyme to mediate that reaction, and the first enzyme gets retasked, and is used in a different metabolic pathway.
Biology is always more complicated and weirder than we think.
2007-10-17 03:58:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the "lock and key hypothesis". The enzyme has a specific shape that only fits the substrate(s) for one reaction.
2007-10-17 10:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
enzymes have specific active sites shapes and charge that only allow specific molecules to fit into the active sites
high temperature will cause enzymes to denatured and the active sites' shape is altered.in acidic condition,the active sites' charge will also change.so the molecules need to be hydrolysed will be repelled due to same charge
2007-10-17 10:44:30 · answer #3 · answered by aresha21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are unique (in shape and function) so that they will only catalyze one specific reaction.
2007-10-17 10:17:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋