Enzyme Structure and Function

This chapter provides an overview on the general architecture of enzymes, describes protein structure and the types of enzyme cofactors, and discusses the advantages of enzymes as efficient and selective biocatalysts. A short overview of the thermodynamics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions is followed by the description of different catalytic mechanisms and strategies that enzymes use to speed up reaction rates. All aspects of enzyme structure, function, and catalysis presented in this subchapter are illustrated by respective examples.