Enzymology studies enzymes and their functions, including their structure, mechanism of action, deficiencies, regulation, and production. Enzymologists work in various industries, including medicine, food science, and environmental remediation. Enzyme research is ongoing, with new discoveries constantly being made.
Enzymology is a branch of science that deals with the study of enzymes. Researchers in this field can apply their knowledge in a variety of ways, ranging from developing drugs designed to replace enzymes that the body doesn’t produce to developing ways to use enzymes in manufacturing. A number of colleges and universities offer educational opportunities in enzymology, including the possibility of graduate work that allows students to develop specialties in the field. Enzymes can work for government, universities, private research facilities, and corporations across a number of industries.
Enzymes are usually proteins and play a very important role in the world. An enzyme serves as a catalyst for a chemical reaction, whether that reaction involves making DNA for the purpose of cellular repair or digesting meat. Enzymes are interested in the countless enzymes that have been identified and are yet to be identified, ranging from unique compounds in papaya pulp to enzymes produced in the digestive tracts of animals.
The structure of enzymes is a major topic of interest, as are the deviations in structure that can cause enzymes to change function. The function and mechanism of action of enzymes are also fields of study in enzymology, with researchers working to understand how enzymes work, what they do, and what happens when they don’t work properly. Enzyme deficiencies that cause health problems are also studied in enzymology, with researchers identifying the enzymes involved in those deficiencies and working on ways to replace them or mimic their action.
Enzyme regulation and enzyme production are also covered in enzymology, as are the roles of inhibitors and promoters of enzyme activity. Enzymologists can work in settings such as pharmaceutical companies, developing products that regulate enzyme production in order to address health issues, and can also be found studying natural compounds that inhibit enzymes and how these compounds work.
Some examples of fields where the enzyme may play a role include: medicine, food science, nutrition, textile manufacturing, papermaking, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biology, and environmental remediation. Enzyme research is an ongoing quest, with researchers continually uncovering new information, from information about enzymes that could be used in environmental cleanups to discoveries of enzymes that can be used to create a distressed look for blue jeans. Individuals interested in a career in this field should plan to spend a number of years in school, as most enzymologists have college degrees.
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