enzymocentric

Enzymocentric is an adjective used in biochemistry and related fields to describe a perspective or framework that centers on enzymes as the primary drivers of biological processes. In an enzymocentric view, enzyme-catalyzed reactions, their kinetics, regulation, and localization are highlighted as fundamental determinants of cellular behavior and metabolic flux, often ahead of genetic or signaling-level explanations.

Etymology and usage: The term is formed from enzyme and centric, and appears in scholarly writing as a descriptive label rather than a formal theory. It is used to contrast with gene-centric, pathway-centric, or network-centric approaches, emphasizing the mechanistic role of enzymes in catalysis and control of pathways.

Applications: In metabolic engineering and industrial biotechnology, enzymocentric strategies target specific enzymes to alter fluxes and product yields; in pharmacology and drug discovery, enzyme active sites and catalysis mechanisms are central to target identification and inhibitor design; in systems biology, enzymocentric models simplify computations by focusing on enzyme-catalyzed steps, though they are often integrated with regulatory and transport considerations.

Limitations: While useful for mechanistic clarity, an enzymocentric approach can overlook regulatory networks, post-translational modifications, compartmentalization, and systemic properties. Integrative models that combine enzymatic data with gene expression, signaling, and metabolite transport are typically required for a comprehensive understanding.