EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Enzymes are proteins comprised of amino acids linked together in one or more polypeptide chains. This sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain is called the primary structure. This, in turn, determines the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme, including the shape of the active site.

Detailed explanation-2: -Although an enzyme generally consists of protein, a few enzymes contain non-protein components such as nucleic acid. The ribozyme discovered by Thomas Cech and others in 1986 is a catalyst made of RNA, which acts on itself and cleaves RNA.

Detailed explanation-3: -Enzymes are mainly globular proteins-protein molecules where the tertiary structure has given the molecule a generally rounded, ball shape (although perhaps a very squashed ball in some cases). The other type of proteins (fibrous proteins) have long thin structures and are found in tissues like muscle and hair.

Detailed explanation-4: -Definition. An enzyme is a biological catalyst and is almost always a protein.

Detailed explanation-5: -Only few proteins have the capability to bind the substrate with the help of their active sites in such a manner that allows the reaction to take place in an efficient manner. Hence, all enzymes are proteins but all proteins are not enzymes.