Characteristics Of Enzyme

Enzymes are biocatalysts produced in the protoplasm. They are synthesized in the cell. The basic properties of enzymes are:

1. Most of the enzymes are proteinaceous in nature. They are macromolecules of globular proteins with higher molecules weight. They may entirely consists of protein e.g amylase or pepsin or may contain, along with protein, a non-protein part. e.g holoenzyme.
2. They react with both acidic and alkaline substances due to the presence of protein as their major part.
3. Enzymes generally act with the living cell where they have been produced but sometimes they diffuse out of the cell and perform catalytic function outside the cell or in other cells.
4. They are specefic in their nature and their action.
5. Their molecules are much greater in size than the substrate.
6. They have particular sites to react with the substrates called active site.