Scientists have produced the blueprints of a bacterial enzyme

Trinity College Dublin:

Scientists have produced the first fine-detail molecular blueprints of a bacterial enzyme known as Lit, which is suspected to play a “stealthy” role in the progression of infection by reducing the immune response.

When you break down the molecular structure of an enzyme molecule, its hard to understand how this miniscule protein can change the color of your hair or reduce swelling on a blister. Yet these small proteins have an outsized influence on your health. To find out why, read this article!

What are enzymes? - Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that catalyze reactions. This means they lower the activation energy necessary for a given reaction to take place and speed up the reaction's progress. The high-energy molecules that act as substrates in a particular chemical reaction will be converted into lower-energy molecules so that the reaction can continue quickly and easily. Enzymes have been found in all living cells and in most organisms, and they are responsible for maintaining cellular structure, regulating gene expression, and modifying the environment for reproduction.

What do enzymes catalyze? - In general, catalysts can be used to convert molecules from one form to another. Enzymes catalyze specific chemical reactions that occur within the cell. The specific reactions that a given enzyme catalyses are determined by its specificity. In general, a catalyst will only affect a specific reaction when it is bound to a specific enzyme.