Enzymes are named based on the specific reaction they catalyze or the substrate they act upon. The -ase ending is common in enzyme names, indicating their nature as catalysts (e.g., maltase catalyzes maltose hydrolysis).
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Enzymes act as biocatalysts facilitating specific reactions like digestion, absorption, and energy production in living organisms. They are crucial for life processes due to their ability to catalyze reactions under mild conditions.
Proteins exhibit two secondary structures, a-helix, and b-pleated sheet, resulting from hydrogen bonding between >C=O and –NH– groups in the peptide bond. The a-helix forms a right-handed screw, while the b-pleated sheet resembles pleated folds of drapery.
The primary structure of proteins refers to the specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain. Any alteration in this sequence creates a distinct protein, making the primary structure crucial for protein identity.
Protein structure can be studied at four levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. Each level represents increasing complexity, with primary being the simplest and quaternary being the most complex.