How Kiwifruit enzyme Actinidin aids in protein digestion<\/h3>\n
Enzymes<\/span><\/span>\u00a0are proteins<\/span><\/span>\u00a0that<\/span><\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>biological catalysts<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/span>they<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>catalyze<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0biochemical reactions\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>occur in living organisms<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>such as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the digestion of food<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>synthesis of DNA<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0An enzyme's function is determined by its\u00a0<\/span><\/span>shape and the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>sequence of amino acids\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0made of<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>an enzyme will react\u00a0<\/span><\/span>only\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with specific<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>substances.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.livaux.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Actinidin_Green_Kiwifruit.jpeg\")
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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTo\u00a0<\/span>catalyse<\/span>\u00a0a reaction, an enzyme will bind to one or more molecules<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0substrates<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>through<\/span>\u00a0its\u00a0<\/span>binding site, situated around its\u00a0<\/span>active site<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The active site is a special pocket on the enzyme's surface<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that contains the parts that\u00a0<\/span>catalyze<\/span>\u00a0the reaction,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>the binding site\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>selective for\u00a0<\/span>that particular enzyme<\/span>'<\/span>s substrate(s).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As a result of this binding<\/span>\u00a0and catalysis<\/span>, the substrate<\/span>(<\/span>s<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0may be broken down into<\/span>\u00a0multiple products<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>joined together\u00a0<\/span>to create\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>larger molecule<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>have parts swapped\u00a0<\/span>around<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>They are then released\u00a0<\/span>by the enzyme<\/span>\u00a0to perform their\u00a0<\/span>biological\u00a0<\/span>function.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.livaux.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Actinidin_Structure.jpeg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nThe activity of an enzyme\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>be affected by several factors, including temperature<\/span>, concentration<\/span>, pH<\/span>, the presence of salts<\/span>\u00a0and the presence of inhibitors<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>something that will stop the enzyme from working)\u00a0<\/span>or activators<\/span>\u00a0(something that will\u00a0<\/span>promote the activity of the enzyme)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe most commonly known\u00a0<\/span>enzymes\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>our digestive enzymes: lipase<\/span>s<\/span>, amylase<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and protease<\/span>s.\u00a0<\/span>These enzymes digest lipids<\/span>\/fats<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>starch<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0protein<\/span>\u00a0respectively.\u00a0<\/span>Other enzymes take part in\u00a0<\/span>a wide range of processes<\/span>\u00a0to ensure the normal running of our bodies<\/span>\u00a0and are vital\u00a0<\/span>for life<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span>Proteases are enzymes which catalyse\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the breakdown of proteins (<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>process known as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>proteolysis)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0into\u00a0<\/span><\/span>smaller peptides or single amino acids<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>They do this by cleaving the peptide bonds within the protein<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In the body,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the breakdown of dietary protein<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is essential as it allows for the absorption of amino acids which can then be utilised\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as building blocks\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by<\/span><\/span>\u00a0cells<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in the body<\/span><\/span>