A Theory of the Mechanism of Enzyme Action

Abstract

A hypothesis of the mechanism of enzyme action was developed which accounts for the participation of the protein component in enzymatic reactions in terms of its molecular structure. Some of the fundamental postulates of the theory are: a process of electron transfer involving the participation of a hydrogen-bridge chain of peptide linkages in the transmission of electrons from substrate to prosthetic group, and hydrolytic enzyme reactions as essentially acid-base catalyzed reactions in which the hydrogen-bridged chain of peptide linkages plays the part of proton donor and acceptor. Based upon these postulates, the role of the prosthetic groups of oxidation-reduction enzymes was discussed in terms of one-electron changes and the participation of semiquinone intermediates.