Question

Study the reaction given below
$\text{CO}_{\text{2}} \text{+H}_{\text{2}} \text{O} \overset{\text{Enzyme}}{\rightleftharpoons \, } \text{H}_{\text{2}} \text{CO}_{\text{3}}$
​In the absence of any enzyme, this reaction is very slow, with 200 molecules of H₂CO₃ formed in an hour. In the presence of an enzyme, the reaction speeds dramatically with about 600,000 molecules formed very second. Name the enzyme which has accelerated the reaction by 10 million times.

• A. Ribozyme
• B. Carbonic anhydrase
• C. Catalase
• D. Peroxidase

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The reaction catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase is:
$\text{CO}_{2} + \text{H}_{2} \text{O} \overset{\text{carbonic anhydrase}}{\rightleftharpoons} \text{H}_{2} \text{CO}_{3}$
In the absence of any enzyme this reaction is very slow, with about 200 molecules of H₂CO₃ being formed in an hour. However, by using the enzyme present within the cytoplasm called carbonic anhydrase, the reaction speeds dramatically with about 600,000 molecules being formed every second. The enzyme has accelerated the reaction rate by about 10 million times.