In: Chemistry
Here is a scheme describing the keto-enol tautomerization reaction. Design the catalytic site of an enzyme that would accelerate the rate of this reaction. The rate enhancement should be as great as possible. Draw the amino acids that would be involved in the reaction and the electron flow during each reaction step. Remember that the enzyme has to be regenerated at the end of catalysis.
In organic chemistry, keto–enol tautomerism refers to a chemical equilibrium between a keto form (a ketone or analdehyde) and an enol (an alcohol). The enol and keto forms are said to be tautomers of each other. The interconversion of the two forms involves the movement of an alpha hydrogen and the shifting of bonding electrons; hence, the isomerism qualifies as tautomerism.
Enzymes are macromolecules that help accelerate (catalyze) chemical reactions in biological systems. This is usually done by accelerating reactions by lowering the transition state or decreasing the activation energy.
Catalysis happens at the active site of the enzyme. It contains the residues that directly participate in the making and breaking of bonds. These residues are called the catalytic groups. Although enzymes differ widely in structure, specificity, and mode of catalysis a number of generalizations concerning their active sites can be made