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BI2.1-5 | Introduction to Enzyme
Learning Objectives
- Explain the fundamental concepts of enzyme, isoenzyme and coenzyme, and enumerate the main classes of IUBMB nomenclature (BI2.1)
- Describe and explain the basic principles of enzyme activity — including active site models, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and factors affecting enzyme activity (BI2.2)
- Describe and discuss enzyme inhibition, the role of drugs as inhibitors, and enzymes as therapeutic agents (BI2.3)
- Describe and discuss the clinical utility of various serum enzymes as markers of pathological conditions (BI2.4)
- Interpret laboratory results of enzymes in various disorders (BI2.5)
INSTRUCTIONS
Enzymes are the molecular workers behind every reaction in your body. This module builds from what enzymes are, through how they work, to how doctors use them as diagnostic tools. No advanced chemistry needed — we'll keep kinetics intuitive.
Parallel connections: In Anatomy, you're learning about general features of the body — enzymes are the chemical tools that build and maintain every tissue you're studying. In Physiology, you're studying general physiology — how cells maintain homeostasis, which depends entirely on enzyme-regulated reactions. Every metabolic pathway you'll study later in Biochemistry — carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids — depends on enzymes. They're the workers in every biochemical factory.
References
- Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 32nd ed., Chapters 7–9: Enzymes (textbook)
- Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 8th ed., Chapter 6: Enzymes (textbook)
- Satyanarayana's Biochemistry, 6th ed., Chapter 5: Enzymes (textbook)
- Vasudevan's Textbook of Biochemistry, 8th ed., Chapter 5: Enzymes (textbook)
Version 2.0 | NMC CBUC 2024