enzyme

enzyme definition - medical

en·zyme (ĕnˈzīm)

noun
Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as specialized catalysts for biochemical reactions.

Related Forms:

  • enˌzy·matˈic (-zə-mătˈĭk), en·zyˈmic (-zīˈmĭk, -zĭmˈĭk) adjective

(click for a larger image)

enzyme

Top: substrate molecules bonding with an enzyme's active site

Center: the substrate molecules and enzyme bind to form a single molecule

Bottom: the new molecule and unchanged enzyme separate

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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