Enzymes: Their Place in Biology

Abstract

One marvels at the intricate design of living systems, and we cannot but wonder how life originated on this planet. Whether first biological structures emerged as the self-reproducing genetic templates (genetics-first origin of life) or the metabolic universality preceded the genome and eventually integrated it (metabolism-first origin of life) is still a matter of hot scientific debate. There is growing acceptance that the RNA world came first – as RNA molecules can perform both the functions of information storage and catalysis. Regardless of which view eventually gains acceptance, emergence of catalytic phenomena is at the core of biology. The last century has seen an explosive growth in our understanding of biological systems. The progression has involved successive emphasis on taxonomy → physiology → biochemistry → molecular biology → genetic engineering and finally the large-scale study of genomes. The field of molecular biology became largely synonymous with the study of DNA – the genetic material. Molecular biology however had its beginnings in the understanding of biomolecular structure and function. Appreciation of proteins, catalytic phenomena, and the function of enzymes had a large role to play in the progress of modern biology.