Question

Briefly explain the method of nomenclature of enzymes.

Answer 1

There are several methods of naming enzymes. 

These are as follows: 

• Most enzymes are named by adding suffix-case at the end of the name of substrate catalyzed by them. Example: Maltase, Sucrase, Urease. 
• Many enzymes are named on the basis of the type of catalytic reaction governed by the enzyme. Example: Oxidase, Dehydrogenase etc. 
• In the modern method of nomenclature, enzymes are named by adding suffix-case after both the name of the substrate on which they act and the type of catalytic reaction governed by them. Example: Succinate dehydrogenase. 
• In some cases, traditional names of enzymes have been retained and are in practice. Example: Pepsin, Trypsin, Chymotrypsin. 
• International Union of biochemistry has proposed systematic nomenclature in which some code number is given to each enzyme. In this nomenclature, substrate name, type of reaction catalyzed and some other information is also included.