For over a century, scientists have struggled to understand how enzymes speed up life-sustaining biochemical reactions at incredible rates. Researchers at Stanford University have made significant breakthroughs in this area, shedding light on the “great mystery” of enzyme biology.
Using advanced X-ray techniques, the team analyzed thousands of snapshots of enzymes in action and identified key features responsible for their remarkable reaction speeds. The findings could revolutionize fields like basic science, drug discovery, and education.
According to senior author Dan Herschlag, enzymes can speed up reactions a trillion-trillion times faster than expected. However, scientists have struggled to translate this into a specific understanding of the chemical and physical interactions involved.
The study’s authors, Herschlag and doctoral student Siyuan Du, took an innovative approach by focusing on “ensembles” – the dynamic states that enzymes exist in during catalysis. By breaking down enzyme reactions to individual energetic contributions, they were able to quantify and explain how features within enzymes provide catalysis.
Their research revealed that an enzyme’s oxygen atom can force a reaction forward by creating tension between atoms, much like a coiled spring. This mechanism appears across multiple enzyme families, including the serine proteases, which are commonly used in biochemical explanations.
The breakthrough could lead to designing new enzymes that rival those found in nature, revolutionizing how biochemistry is taught and applied in various industries and medicine. As Herschlag noted, “We need to better understand enzymes before we can expect to have real power over them.”
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-power-enzymes-reshape-biochemistry.html