Question

Several different classes of enzymes are needed for the catabolism of

carbohydrates. Which of the following descriptions best matches the function of a
mutase?_____
(a) An enzyme that catalyzes the rearrangement of bonds within a single
molecule.
(b) An enzyme that catalyzes a change in the position of a specific chemical
group within a single molecule.
(c) An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a molecule by removing a
hydride ion.
(d) An enzyme that catalyzes the addition of phosphate groups to other
molecules.

Answer 1

Mutases are enzymes that catalyze the rearrangement of a chemical group within a molecule, aiding in carbohydrate metabolism by transferring a functional group to a different position within the same molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to this question is (b) An enzyme that catalyzes a change in the position of a specific chemical group within a single molecule. Mutases are a type of isomerase enzyme, and one of their roles in carbohydrate metabolism is to catalyze the transfer of a functional group, like a phosphate, within a molecule from one position to another. This rearrangement is important for the regulation and progression of metabolic pathways, for example, in the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to 2-phosphoglycerate in the glycolysis pathway.