Diffusion-controlled enzymes are characterized by second-order rate constants in the range 108-10 10 M-1 S-1. These values are at the upper end of the observed rates of many enzyme-substrate reactions and have been predicted by theoretical studies on bimolecular reaction in solution. Such enzymes are considered to be perfect, since their rate-limiting step is not due to any chemical event but to the diffusional association rate between the enzyme and the substrate. Often the enzyme-substrate encounter is facilitated either through the presence of a strong attractive electric field, produced by charges on the enzyme surface, or through the reduction in the dimension of the search process. Here we provide a brief review of some of the enzymes characterized by a very fast second-order constant, focusing attention on triose phosphate isomerase and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase taken as typical examples of such highly tuned enzymes.
CITATION STYLE
Stroppolo, M. E., Falconi, M., Caccuri, A. M., & Desideri, A. (2001). Superefficient enzymes. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. Birkhauser Verlag Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000788
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