Macromolecules, mostly of protein nature, that function as
(bio)catalysts by increasing the reaction rates. In general, an enzyme catalyses only one reaction type (reaction specificity) and operates on only one type of
substrate (substrate specificity). Substrate molecules are attacked at the same site (regiospecificity) and only one or preferentially one of the enantiomers of
chiral substrates or of
racemic mixtures is attacked (stereospecificity).
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 152
PAC, 1993, 65, 2291
(Nomenclature of kinetic methods of analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 1993))
on page 2295
PAC, 1994, 66, 2587
(Glossary of bioanalytical nomenclature - Part 1: General terminology, body fluids, enzymology, immunology (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 2593
