• Question: How do enzymes break down macromolecules? What bonds are broken, what bonds are formed?

    Asked by megnog to Chris, Kay, Kerstin, Lorna, Liv on 18 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 18 Mar 2010:

      It depends on the macromolecule. For example, if you are breaking down protein then you’re mainly breaking down peptide bonds (NH-C0).

    • Photo: Chris Needham

      Chris Needham answered on 19 Mar 2010:

      I think you’ll get a better answer from the others on this one 🙂

    • Photo: Olivia Hibbitt

      Olivia Hibbitt answered on 19 Mar 2010:

      Hey megnog….
      why do I get the feeling that these questions are homework!!??
      From my SERIOUSLY limited knowledge of biochemistry I think enzymes work by association with their active site….that’s teh bit on the macromolecule that they are supposed to chop up…..and then they do their pacman thing on it and it magically breaks up!!! If I wanted to hazard a guess I would say they are probably co-valent bonds between the carbon atoms in amino acids!

    • Photo: Kerstin Zechner

      Kerstin Zechner answered on 22 Mar 2010:

      That depends on which molecule is broken down. In the case of DNA, the weak hydrogen bond between the bases of the DNA are broken by an enzyme known as helicase. Because the bond between the bases is so weak, it can basically be “torn apart” by the helicase travelling through it.

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