Question

List the ways in which metal ions participate in catalysis.

Answer 1

There are many ways to describe the effect of metal ions in catalytic reactions which are described below:

1) Metals activate the enzymes by changing its shape and help the enzyme in catalytic reaction.

2) The metal facilitates the release of proton from a bound water and form nucleophilic hydroxide ion and thus helps to onset of catalytic reaction. This may occur in case of enzyme carbonic anhydrase catalytic chemical reaction. This enzyme is present in blood helps to convert carbon dioxide to carbonic acid and bicarbonate ion. When RBC reaches to lungs then again this enzymes helps to convert bicarbonate ion to carbon dioxide and thus expelled out.

3) The metal ions helps to stabilize the transition state of an unstable intermediates which still transitioning structure and allows them to react with substrate to form the final product by catalyzing the reaction.