Class 11 · Biomolecules

Enzyme Catalysis and Metabolic Pathways — NEET Biology

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In the absence of any enzyme this reaction is very slow, with about 200 molecules of H2CO3 being formed in an hour. However, by using the enzyme present within the cytoplasm called carbonic anhydrase, the reaction speeds dramatically with about 600,000 molecules being formed every second. The enzyme has accelerated the reaction rate by about 10 million times. The power of enzymes is incredible indeed! There are thousands of types of enzymes each catalysing a unique chemical or metabolic reaction. A multistep chemical reaction, when each of the steps is catalysed by the same enzyme complex or different enzymes, is called a metabolic pathway. For example,

🖼️Related NCERT figure: Chemical equation showing glucose converting to 2 pyruvic acid with molecular formula C6H12O6 + O2 → 2C3H4O3 + 2H2O (Glucose → 2 Pyruvic acid)
NCERT Biology · Class 11 · Chapter 9 · Paragraph 33
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Assertion (A): Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid from CO2 and water. Reason (R): Without enzyme catalysis, this reaction produces bicarbonate ions very slowly.

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