Question

The function of zymase is to: (a) Change starch into sugar (b) Ferment glucose to alcohol and \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) (c) Change malt sugar into glucose (d) Change starch into malt sugar and dextrin

Short answer

The function of zymase is to ferment glucose to alcohol and \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\), so the correct answer is (b).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Function of Zymase

Research or recall the biological function of zymase, which is an enzyme complex that catalyzes the fermentation of sugar into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Eliminate Incorrect Options

Knowing the function of zymase, eliminate the options that do not describe the fermentation of sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Options (a), (c), and (d) can be eliminated as they do not correctly represent this function.

Select the Correct Answer

Confirm that option (b) accurately represents the function of zymase, which is to ferment glucose into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide.

Key concepts

Enzyme Catalysis

Enzymes are specialized protein molecules that act as biological catalysts, critical for various biochemical reactions. These catalysts are not consumed in the reaction; they facilitate and accelerate processes without undergoing permanent changes themselves.

Enzyme catalysis involves the enzyme interacting with a specific substance, called a substrate, to form an enzyme-substrate complex. This interaction often occurs at a particular site on the enzyme known as the active site. The formation of this complex can lead to a reduction in the activation energy required for the reaction, effectively speeding up the reaction. In the context of our exercise, the enzyme complex zymase catalyzes the fermentation of glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide, a key reaction in the production of alcoholic beverages and biofuel.

To enhance understanding of this concept, students should note that enzymes like zymase are highly specific—they only catalyze specific reactions related to their particular substrates. This specificity is due to the unique three-dimensional shape of the enzyme, particularly the active site where the substrate binds.

Fermentation Process

Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions). In the fermentation process, organisms like yeast utilize enzymes to convert glucose, a simple sugar, into other chemicals as a way to extract energy for their cellular processes.

Specifically, zymase, working in yeast cells, catalyzes the conversion of glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide. This type of fermentation is known as alcoholic or ethanol fermentation and is widely employed in the brewing and baking industries. To articulate the process, glucose undergoes glycolysis to create pyruvate, which is then transformed by zymase into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Importance of Anaerobic Conditions

Anaerobic conditions are necessary for fermentation because the presence of oxygen would lead the cell to utilize a different metabolic pathway, namely aerobic respiration, which doesn’t produce ethanol. For students to truly grasp fermentation, it's essential to understand that it not only involves enzyme catalysis but also depends on the environmental conditions under which the microbes operate.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the branch of science that explores the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology and chemistry to understand the molecular mechanisms of life.

In the problem at hand, we delve into the biochemical actions of zymase, an enzyme complex within the larger context of metabolic pathways. The function of zymase links to biochemistry as it is inherently about understanding how this complex enzyme interacts at the molecular level with glucose to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide—both chemicals essential in various biological and industrial applications.

Real-World Applications

From a biochemistry perspective, knowing about zymase’s function allows us to understand fermentation’s practical applications, such as in the production of biofuels, in the culinary arts for leavening bread, and in creating beverages like beer and wine. For an educational foothold, appreciating the role of enzymes like zymase can stimulate further inquiry into their uses in biotechnology and medical research.