Question

hydrolases are enzymes that break down large molecules into smaller subunits through the addition of ____________.

Answer 1

Hydrolases catalyze the breaking down of large molecules into smaller subunits by adding water during hydrolysis, in which the molecule of water is split into H and OH parts that attach to the compound's broken pieces.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hydrolases are enzymes that break down large molecules into smaller subunits through the addition of water. These enzymes facilitate hydrolysis reactions in which a water molecule disrupts a compound, breaking its bonds, and effectively splitting the molecule into smaller components. This process involves the water molecule itself splitting into hydrogen (H) and hydroxyl (OH) groups.

One portion of the broken compound bonds with the hydrogen atom, while the other portion bonds with the hydroxyl group, resulting in the formation of two separate smaller molecules.This reaction mechanism is crucial for our digestion, as catalytic enzymes in our digestive system like proteases (e.g., pepsin and peptidase), lipases, and enzymes breaking down carbohydrates (e.g., amylase, sucrase) utilize hydrolysis to process food into absorbable nutrients. The nutrients then become accessible for cells in the intestine and thus provide essential energy for cellular activities.