ENZYMESENZYMES In the Biology unit on Digestion, In the Biology unit on Digestion,

You’ve studied You’ve studied enzymesenzymes, and how , and how they they breakdown foodsbreakdown foods so that our so that our bodies can absorb them.bodies can absorb them.

This presentation will review enzymes This presentation will review enzymes and show how they are involved in: and show how they are involved in:

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

A Digestive Enzyme: How does it work?A Digestive Enzyme: How does it work?

This diagram explains how a digestive enzyme can break a This diagram explains how a digestive enzyme can break a food molecule into smaller molecules during digestionfood molecule into smaller molecules during digestion

Enzymes are CatalystsEnzymes are Catalysts Enzymes allow certain chemical reactions to Enzymes allow certain chemical reactions to

occur much more easily by combining occur much more easily by combining temporarily with particular molecules. (see temporarily with particular molecules. (see diagram)diagram)

For example, A food molecule can break apart For example, A food molecule can break apart more easily while combined with a digestive more easily while combined with a digestive enzyme,. (the food molecule is the substrate enzyme,. (the food molecule is the substrate in this case) in this case)

Enzymes increase the efficiency of digestion. Enzymes increase the efficiency of digestion. In fact digestion of food can’t occur without In fact digestion of food can’t occur without digestive enzymes.digestive enzymes.

Each food molecule can only be broken down Each food molecule can only be broken down by its special enzymeby its special enzyme

What are Catalysts?What are Catalysts? CatalystsCatalysts are chemicals that are chemicals that cause cause

certain chemical reactions to occur fastercertain chemical reactions to occur faster and at lower temperatures.and at lower temperatures.

Catalysts can be reusedCatalysts can be reused after the reaction after the reaction is over.is over.

Examples of catalystsExamples of catalysts: : Platinum: catalytic converters on autos Platinum: catalytic converters on autos

etc. etc. Magnesium Dioxide: (breaks down Magnesium Dioxide: (breaks down

peroxide used in bleaching fabrics)peroxide used in bleaching fabrics) Enzymes: (protein molecules that act as Enzymes: (protein molecules that act as

catalysts) Nearly all reactions that occur catalysts) Nearly all reactions that occur in living cells require enzymes. Without in living cells require enzymes. Without them, life would be impossiblethem, life would be impossible

Enzymes and Enzymes and BiotechnologyBiotechnology

As well as controlling the chemical As well as controlling the chemical reactions in our bodies and in all other life, reactions in our bodies and in all other life, enzymes are now used for many other enzymes are now used for many other purposes.purposes.

Enzymes are used in “Biotechnology” Enzymes are used in “Biotechnology” Biotechnology is a big word with a simple Biotechnology is a big word with a simple meaning. meaning.

BiotechnologyBiotechnology is is technology based on based on biology, especially when used in , especially when used in agriculture, , food science, and , and medicine. . (Wikepedia)(Wikepedia)

Old BiotechnologiesOld Biotechnologies People have used plants People have used plants

and animals for food and and animals for food and other purposes for other purposes for thousands of years thousands of years (wheat, maize or corn, (wheat, maize or corn, cattle, horses, dogs, cattle, horses, dogs, potatoes, etc.)potatoes, etc.)

People have improved People have improved these plants and animals these plants and animals and the products that and the products that come from them come from them

Examples of products Examples of products produced by ancient (and produced by ancient (and modern biotech)modern biotech) Food.. Meats, Grains, Food.. Meats, Grains,

Vegetables, cheeseVegetables, cheese Clothing.. furs, leather, Clothing.. furs, leather,

cotton, woolcotton, wool Beverages.. wine, beer Beverages.. wine, beer

(produced by microbes)(produced by microbes) Medicines.. Seneca, Medicines.. Seneca,

willow bark (aspirin) willow bark (aspirin)

Modern Biotechnology and Modern Biotechnology and EnzymesEnzymes

Old biotechnologies often involved Old biotechnologies often involved enzymes, but people didn’t know it. enzymes, but people didn’t know it. (wine, beer, cheese, leathers,)(wine, beer, cheese, leathers,)

In modern biotech, we deliberately In modern biotech, we deliberately use enzymes because of their many use enzymes because of their many abilities such as operating at lower abilities such as operating at lower temp, being reusable, only affecting temp, being reusable, only affecting their target reactiontheir target reaction

Examples of Enzymes in Examples of Enzymes in BiotechBiotech

Baking:Baking: Cause the Cause the breakdown of starchbreakdown of starch in in

the flour to sugar. Yeast action on the flour to sugar. Yeast action on sugar produces carbon dioxide. sugar produces carbon dioxide. Used in production of white bread, Used in production of white bread, buns, and rolls. buns, and rolls.

Baby FoodsBaby Foods Trypsin predigests protein for baby Trypsin predigests protein for baby

foodsfoods

Brewing IndustryBrewing Industry Proteases remove cloudiness in Proteases remove cloudiness in

stored beerstored beer Amylase used to breakdown starches Amylase used to breakdown starches

in the maltin the malt

Barley for making beerBarley for making beer

CheeseCheese RenninRennin from the stomachs of calves from the stomachs of calves

and lambs used to break down milk and lambs used to break down milk proteins to make cheeseproteins to make cheese

LipaseLipase, used to produce the flavours , used to produce the flavours in blue cheesesin blue cheeses

Pulp and PaperPulp and Paper

Amylases:Amylases: Breakdown starches Breakdown starches in the paperin the paper

XylanaseXylanase: reduces : reduces the amount of the amount of bleach used to bleach used to lighten the paperlighten the paper

BiofuelsBiofuels

3D view of Cellulase3D view of Cellulase

Cellulases:Break down plant matter into sugars Cellulases:Break down plant matter into sugars that can be fermented into alcohol that can be that can be fermented into alcohol that can be used to make “Gas-ohol” fuel.used to make “Gas-ohol” fuel.

Biological DetergentBiological Detergent

Amylases,Amylases, Proteases, Proteases, LipasesLipases to to breakdown breakdown protein, oil, fat protein, oil, fat and starch and starch stainsstains..

Enzymes help replace phosphatesEnzymes help replace phosphates which were a major pollutant in old which were a major pollutant in old detergents. (Phosphates cause algae detergents. (Phosphates cause algae problems in Lake Winnipeg) problems in Lake Winnipeg)

Molecular BiologyMolecular Biology Various enzymes are used in Various enzymes are used in genetic genetic

engineeringengineering important in important in drug manufacturing, agriculture drug manufacturing, agriculture

and medicineand medicine. . Essential for Essential for many processesmany processes in molecular in molecular

biology biology Molecular biology is also important in forensic Molecular biology is also important in forensic

science.science.

DNA ModelDNA Model