Question

I recently started my GCSE Biology course where I spend the next two years learning and preparing for my GCSE. One of the questions I have is that I was told that enzymes are recycled every time they are used. So why do people sometimes refer to developing an enzyme deficiency?

Answer 1

Enzyme deficiencies can result from genetic mutations affecting production or function, leading to harmful metabolic consequences despite enzymes being recycled. Conditions like G6PD deficiency demonstrate the critical role enzymes play in specific metabolic pathways.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Enzyme Deficiency

While it is true that enzymes are not used up in chemical reactions and are recycled, their abundance and functionality can be affected by different factors. Cellular conditions can lead to fluctuations in enzyme levels, and certain cells require specific enzymes depending on their functions. Moreover, diseases such as Sanfilippo Syndrome type B and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency can lead to enzyme deficiencies. In the case of G6PD deficiency, the lack of this crucial enzyme results in an impairment of the metabolic pathway that supplies NADPH to cells, which can have severe consequences.

Enzyme deficiencies can occur due to genetic mutations, which may either reduce the production of an enzyme or alter its function. Since each metabolic pathway has specific enzyme requirements, and each enzyme catalyzes a specific type of reaction, a single enzyme deficiency can lead to harmful accumulation of substrates or a shortage of vital products. Consequently, while enzymes themselves are not diminished through the reactions they catalyze, their overall levels in the body can be affected by genetic and environmental factors, leading to potential deficiencies.