Classifications of Enzymes
MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems · Learn by Concept
Help Questions
MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems › Classifications of Enzymes
1 - 1
1
Chymotrypsin is a proteolytic enzyme that is released by the pancreas. Using a water molecule, it cleaves the traget polypeptide and creates the new N and C termini for the newly made fragments.
Based on this enzymatic function, what type of enzyme is chymotrypsin?
Hydrolase
CORRECT
Ligase
Lyase
Transferase
Explanation
Chymostrypsin creates smaller peptide segments, so it is not a ligase or transferase. Since it employs the use of a water molecule in order to cleave the polymer, it is classified as a hydrolase enzyme. Lyases also shorten polymers, but not with the use of a water molecule.