Enzymes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enzymes - Research Paper Example They are encoded by the genetic material which is a map telling the catalysts how to form and function. Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy of the reaction, which means that the reaction can proceed much quicker. The enzyme-substrate complex is an important component in understanding how enzymes work. Enzymes bind to substrates in order to change the substrate and form a product. The enzyme and substrate are complementary to one another; therefore they usually can only bind with one enzyme. This is why the enzyme-substrate complex has been named as the â€Å"lock and key model†. In some cases, there is more than one substrate, which can bind to a particular enzyme. Competition of the substrate with the enzymes and chemical equilibrium is what keeps some biological systems in check, with producing some products more than others. In medical application, sometimes these enzyme levels need to be regulated. According to chemical principles, if you increase one amount of products in an equilibrium situation, the body will move so to remove this stress. In the case of medicines, they can be used to regulate these biochemical equilibriums, which can be thrown of as the result of diet, external factors, mutations, etc. Enzymes are a type of protein, meaning that they are created in the intercellular processes like every other kind of protein. DNA contains the original blueprint. Through the use of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA, the protein is synthesized. Transcription is where the RNA copies the enzymatic genetic code and translation is where the tRNA and rRNA create the enzymatic protein from the translation of the mRNA. Enzymes come in many different configurations and can exist a numerous amount of conditions performing infinitely numerous diverse tasks in the body. For example, there are enzymes, which regulate protein synthesis such as helicase, DNA polymerase, etc. There are enzymes that regulate digestion, neurological functioning, etc. However, sometim es there are problems in enzymes, which cause them to not function appropriately either as a result of the way they were encoded or environmental factors. Errors in the encoding of DNA, deoxyribonucleic acids, can lead to mutations in key enzymes and defects in the enzymes. As a result, certain medical conditions and genetic mutations can lead to maladaptive processes in life. For example, Fibromyalgia is a medical condition in which a person experiences pain in the areas of joints, muscles and other tendons. This is due to a deficiency in an enzyme known as amylase, which is responsible for breaking down carbohydrates. As a result of a lack of this enzyme, this leads to another host of physiological problems. Body aches and stiffness result in multiple muscle groups and places on the body, with the pain ranging from moderate to severe. The pain is not the result of tissue degradation, but rather has to deal with grinding and inflexibility, which leads to the pain. Other known sympt oms of Fibromyalgia are irritable bowl syndrome, depression, and lack of exercise, which can lead to problems with obesity and heart disease, as well as a ride range of other physiological conditions. Luckily, there are many techniques, which are used to treat this condition. The use of physical therapy as a way of strengthening the joints, muscles, and tendons is one of the most commonly used techniques for