Milk Enzymes: Their Role and Significance

Enzymes are delicate organic catalysts produced by living cells, either animal or plant, but work independently from the cells that produce them. They do not necessarily remain at the site of production but are often transported to the site of action through the circu]atory systems. Enzymes can be differentiated from other catalysts on the basis of their specificity, chemical nature, and sensitivity. An important characteristic of an enzyme is a strict specificity of the reaction it can catalyze. Enzyme specificity is a vital biological phenomenon for metabolic order and for life itself since, without specificity, every enzyme would degrade haphazardly and indiscriminately every component of the life-giving cell ma~ terial. Enzymes are proteins, and they function within a narrow pH and temperature range. In general, they are fairly sensitive to heat.