Enzymes: Intracellular and Extracellular Forms (A-level Biology)
Enzymes: Intracellular and Extracellular Forms
Enzymes are involved in every level of the Organism
Enzymes are made inside cells. However, some enzymes are retained in the cell for intracellular reactions while some are excreted out to be involved in reactions occurring for the organism as a whole.
Intracellular Enzymes
- Some enzymes are intracellular. Some enzymes stay and function inside cells. Examples of reactions catalysed by intracellular enzymes include photosynthesis and respiration.
- Catalase helps break down hydrogen peroxide. Catalase is an intracellular enzyme. Certain reactions in the cell release a byproduct called hydrogen peroxide which is lethal to the cell in large amounts. Catalase is involved in breaking down this hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, which are safe for the cell.
Extracellular Enzymes
- Some enzymes are extracellular. Many enzymes also function outside of cells to participate in reactions for the organism as a whole. Digestive enzymes are good examples of extracellular enzymes.
- Amylase is an enzyme present in the saliva. Amylase is one of the digestive enzymes present in the saliva. It catalyses the breakdown of starch into maltose in the mouth.
- Trypsin is an enzyme present in the small intestine. Trypsin is another digestive enzyme that is found in the small intestine. It continues the breakdown of peptide bonds in large protein molecules which starts in the stomach.
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