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Why are glycoside hydrolases in the human body so important? Key functions you may not know!
Glycoside hydrolases play a crucial role in biochemistry as they catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars. These enzymes not only exist naturally in nature, but also cover almost all areas of life, from plants to animals and microorganisms. Whether it is obtaining nutrients in bacteria or maintaining normal physiological functions in the human body, the role of glycoside hydrolases cannot be underestimated.
Glycoside hydrolases are extremely common enzymes in nature and are involved in the degradation of biomass, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and starch.
Main functions of glycoside hydrolases
One of the main functions of these enzymes is to degrade and synthesize sugars. For example, amylase breaks down starch into glucose, which can then be absorbed by the body, while lactase breaks down lactose. These enzymes play an integral role in the digestive system, and without them, we would be at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Distribution and function in the body
Glycoside hydrolases are found in different parts of the human body. They are found in the small intestine and saliva and help break down complex carbohydrates in food. The most common lactase is active in infancy, but as people age, most people develop lactose intolerance due to a decrease in lactase activity.
In cells, these enzymes are also involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked glycoproteins and have diverse and important functions.
Classification and mechanism of glycoside hydrolases
Based on the method of cleavage of glycosidic bonds during the catalytic process, glycoside hydrolases can be divided into retaining and inverting types. Retention-type hydrolases employ a two-step mechanism that ultimately maintains the stereochemical configuration, whereas inversion-type hydrolases induce the change in a single step.
These enzymes can be classified not only based on structure, but also on sequence similarity.
Application areas of these enzymes
Glycoside hydrolases also play an increasingly important role in industrial applications. They are indispensable in the food industry, Chinese medicine preparation and biological industry. For example, amylases can be used to produce maltose, while cellulose hydrolases produced in bacteria have the potential to be used in the production of biofuels.
Glycoside hydrolase inhibitors
Despite the importance of these enzymes, there are also many natural and synthetic inhibitors. For example, antidiabetic drugs such as acarbose and miglitol work by inhibiting glycoside hydrolases to lower blood sugar.
ConclusionGlycoside hydrolases are ubiquitous in our lives, not only affecting our digestive process, but also having a profound impact on the development of medicine and biotechnology. How will their diversity and functionality further influence future research and applications?
