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Biological Environment > Enzyme breaks target |
This site tells the story of the history of the universe. Click Earlier and Later to follow the story. Note: Many facts have been simplified to make them easier to understand. |
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An enzyme must have just one target and split only that kind of molecule. Here is the target. How does the enzyme recognize it? The enzyme has a crack with just the right shape to capture the target.
Molecules in water are carried around by the movement of the liquid water molecules. This is one reason why water is essential for life. After a while the enzyme meets its target. |
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 | The target molecule fits into the crack in the enzyme like a key in a lock. No other molecule will fit in. As a result of the target entering it the enzyme bends slightly and breaks the target in two. These parts are carried away by the moving water molecules and let another target fit into the enzyme.
An enzyme can do only one job - in this case breaking a food molecule - but it can do that job many times. Notice that the shape of the crack in this enzyme is important. The shape decides which molecule the enzyme can do work on and what job can be done on it. Life has to use many different enzymes, one for each job it needs to do, each one with a different shape. | |
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Biological Environment > Enzyme breaks target |
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