ISSN:
1615-6102
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary 1. A physical method was found and described for the preparation of a permanently active zymase solution. 2. Through appropriate peptization of the colloidal enzymes their activity was measurably increased simultaneously with the surface tension, and the viscosity of the solution decreased. 3. The hitherto unexplained effect of minute quantities of ethylene and related substances on cell systems, appears to be due to an initial increased cell permeability, allowing an intensified interaction between reactants and enzymes, followed by the formation of an adsorption film which simultaneously acts as a protector against damaging transformation products. 4. The observations described offer an explanation for the term “activation” used often in the description of biological processes in order to cover an uncertainty caused by the difficulty of giving a plausible interpretation to the observed phenomena. 5. The term “protector” is suggested to designate such gases liquids and solids, which can be adsorbed on the enzyme surface, and alter through this quality the rate of an enzymatic reaction, as for example in the case of alcoholic fermentation. 6. The inspection of the presented curves suggests also an interpretation for the often noted effect of “stimulation” or “depression” caused by the quantatively different introduction of the same narcotic. The charging of an adsorption film on the surface of enzymes within or outside of cells or elsewhere might be continued until reaching a state of equilibrium between the charged film and the stationary compound. In the case of cells the increased permeability caused by the low concentration (enabling simultaneously the increased reactivity) is not altered by the higher concentration, however, a reached equilibrium caused by an overcharged film diminishes or even supresses the formation of the surfacial enzyme-reactant adsorption complex until the equilibrium undergoes a gradually disturbance.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01608016
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