Swap specific amino acids to study their role in catalysis or to create "designer enzymes" with improved stability or new functions.
Produce large quantities of rare enzymes for industrial or medical use.
Enzymes can increase reaction rates by factors of 10610 to the sixth power 101210 to the 12th power compared to uncatalyzed reactions.
Fundamentals of Enzymology: The Cell and Molecular Biology of Catalytic Proteins
Specific residues within the active site participate directly in the making and breaking of chemical bonds.
Unlike inorganic catalysts, enzymes are highly specific. They recognize a particular substrate through a "lock and key" or "induced fit" mechanism.
Modern molecular biology has revolutionized our understanding of enzymology. Through , scientists can: