Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells, Volume 2 - D. Metzler 1980

Enzymes: Protein Catalysts of Cells
Mechanisms of Enzymatic Catalysis
Covalent Catalysis

The side chains of Certain Amino Acids in an enzyme molecule can not only participate in Acid-Base Catalysis, but also become involved in The formation of covalent bonds with substrate molecules. This phenomenon is termed covalent catalysis or, because basic groups are most commonly implicated, nucleophilic catalysis. Covalent catalysis is characteristic of Enzymes that catalyze Nucleophilic substitution reactions; A number of typical Examples of this kind are discussed in Chapter 7. Coenzymes frequently participate in covalent catalysis (see Chapter 8).

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Last update: 06/08/2026

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