Question

Describe the classification and nomenclature of enzymes.

Answer 1

Enzymes can be classified by the kind of chemical reaction catalyzed.

Addition or removal of water

1. Hydrolases - these include esterases, carbohydrases, nucleases, deaminases, amidases, and proteases
2. Hydrases such as fumarase, enolase, aconitase and carbonic anhydrase

Transfer of electrons

1. Oxidases
2. Dehydrogenases

Transfer of a radical

1. Transglycosidases - of monosaccharides
2. Transphosphorylases and phosphomutases - of a phosphate group
3. Transaminases - of amino group
4. Transmethylases - of a methyl group
5. Transacetylases - of an acetyl group

Splitting or forming a C-C bond

1. Desmolases

Changing geometry or structure of a molecule

1. Isomerases

Joining two molecules through hydrolysis of pyrophosphate bond in ATP or other tri-phosphate

1. Ligases