Question

One of the many remarkable enzymes in the human body is carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the interconversion of carbonic acid with carbon dioxide and water. If it were not for this enzyme, the body could not rid itself rapidly enough of the \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) accumulated by cell metabolism. The enzyme catalyzes the dehydration (release to air) of up to \(10^{7} \mathrm{CO}_{2}\) molecules per second. Which components of this description correspond to the terms enzyme, substrate, and turnover number?

Short answer

In the given description, the enzyme is carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the interconversion of the substrate, carbonic acid, with carbon dioxide and water. The turnover number is \(10^7\) molecules of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) per second.

Step-by-step solution

Define Key Terms

Before we can identify the components in the description, let's define the key terms. 1. Enzyme: A protein that acts as a catalyst, speeding up a specific biochemical reaction. 2. Substrate: The molecule upon which an enzyme acts. 3. Turnover number: The number of substrate molecules an enzyme can convert into product per unit time.

Identify the Enzyme

In the given description, the enzyme is mentioned directly: "One of the many remarkable enzymes in the human body is carbonic anhydrase." Thus, the enzyme in this case is carbonic anhydrase.

Identify the Substrate

The description provides information about the biochemical reaction that carbonic anhydrase catalyzes: "catalyzes the interconversion of carbonic acid with carbon dioxide and water." Therefore, the substrate for the enzyme carbonic anhydrase is carbonic acid.

Identify the Turnover Number

The turnover number is mentioned in the description: "The enzyme catalyzes the dehydration (release to air) of up to \(10^7 \mathrm{CO}_{2}\) molecules per second." In this case, the turnover number is \(10^7\) molecules of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) per second. In conclusion: Enzyme: Carbonic anhydrase Substrate: Carbonic acid Turnover number: \(10^7\) molecules of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) per second.