enzymemediated

Enzymemediated refers to processes, reactions, or transformations that are catalyzed or regulated by enzymes. Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions under mild conditions and with high substrate specificity. Enzymemediated processes occur in living organisms and are widely exploited in biotechnology and industry.

Enzymes work by binding substrates at an active site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex, and lowering the activation energy required for the reaction. They may rely on cofactors or coenzymes and can be regulated by allosteric sites or covalent modifications. Enzymemediated reactions often exhibit saturation kinetics described by Michaelis-Menten principles.

Examples include digestive proteases, lipases, and amylases that break down dietary proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; DNA polymerases that replicate genetic material; and ligases or transferases used in biocatalysis. Enzymemediated synthesis can occur through esterification, hydrolysis, oxidation, or reduction, and enzymes can be immobilized for reuse in industrial processes.

Advantages include high specificity, fewer side products, and the ability to operate at ambient temperatures and pressures. Enzymes can enable sustainable production and reduce energy and solvent use. Limitations include sensitivity to temperature and pH, inhibition by products, need for cofactors, potential immunogenicity for non-human enzymes, and cost or scalability challenges.

Ongoing research aims to expand the range of usable reactions through protein engineering, directed evolution, and discovery of new enzymes from diverse environments. Immobilization and process engineering support industrial deployment, while computational design and synthetic biology seek to create tailor-made biocatalysts for complex manufacturing.