ROLE OF ENZYMES IN THE REMEDIATION OF POLLUTED ENVIRONMENTS


Environmental   pollution   is   growing   more   and   more   due   to   the indiscriminate and frequent deliberate release of hazardous, harmful
1.        ENZYMES IN BLOOD CLOTTING
Enzymes are vitally important in preventing excessive blood clotting and reducing the tendency for platelets and red blood cells to 'clog'. Because of enzymes part in removing metabolic waste and improving circulation proteases for example; Trypsin and chymotrypsin can be used in
fibrinolysis, this a process that dissolves blood clots. One use is in the case of thrombosis, this is when blot clots form in damaged blood vessels, if these clots are carried to an small artery and may become blocked a heart attack or stroke can be caused. This can be treated by enzymes such as trypsin and protease. Digestion of the insoluble fibrin clot takes place and because the enzymes are proteins this results in a conversion to amino acids, consequently freeing the trapped blood cells and eliminating the clot. This process is called fibrinolysis. Opposite to the prevention of clotting; the enzyme protease can be used as a debriding agent they are used to clean the wound and accelerate the healing process.
Enzymes can also be used in drug manufacture where the synthesis of drugs is difficult therefore enzymes are used to perform the .chemical procedure. Enzymes can also be used to aid digestion where they are used to supplement amylase, lipase and protease produced mainly by the
pancreas. An example is lactose intolerant people where they require actose as their bodies are not producing it. Mold Penicillium notatum The last point in enzyme application in medicine I will talk about is the production of antibiotics in particular penicillin. The major pharmaceutical; products produced using enzyme technology are the antibiotic, semi-synthetic penicillins.
Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by micro organisms which are effective. In dilute solution in preventing the spread of other micro organisms. Most inhibit growth rather than kill the micro organism on which they act. One of the best known antibiotics is penicillin -discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. It was found that it acts on growing bacteria, killing them and preventing their growth. It is believed to compete with paraaminobenzoic acid for the active site of an enzyme. In this way they do not kill the bacteria but simply stop them from reproducing.
Although it has been very successful since its discovery in 1928 and has had an enormous influence on the control of disease, antibiotics have one serious drawback this is that due to the development of resistance towards antibiotics by pathogens there is a continuing need to find new types. Each time a new one is used resistant strains of micro organisms arise which further drugs have to be developed. In my opinion new developed drugs should therefore be used with much more restraint and discrimination and more time should be used searching for natural antibiotics to the development of new strains using genetic engineering.
In this term paper I have outlined and explained only a small number of the uses of enzymes in medicine however there are many more successfully developed uses. Examples include, in the treatment of genetic defects, the development of artificial' organ function, neoplasm, anti-inflammatory reagents, drug manufacture, the removal of choral components and to aid digestion.
In the 20th century the use of enzymes in pharmaceutical and industry is limited to a low number of very successful applications. However it is the very success of such applications that continues to help pave the way for new developments and it is clear that there is no shortage of ideas. After having an insight to the application of enzymes in the medical and pharmaceutical problems I have realized that it is an exciting and promising field that is ripe for development in the near future.
2.      THE ROLES OF ENZYMES IN GENETICS
So far only around 3000, enzymes are known in the human body, but many thousands more which have not yet been discovered are felt to be responsible for keeping us alive. Their importance is enormous. They represent our life energy! What is there origin? How far can we go to trace this enzymatic life force activity for a single person? This book reviews the role of enzymes in the origin of life and their specialization through evolution.
The genes passed parents and present along the chromosomes determine the actual coding. The DNA molecules within the chromosomes constitute the actual memory of the cell. Within a single cell there are roughly 100000 genes, the majority of with code for enzymes. Each gene, whether structural, receptor, etc, is associates with an enzyme action, and is predetermined to perform a specific function.
3. THE ROLES OF ENZYMES IN REPRODUCTION (MITOSIS)
With the help of enzymes the numerous cells reproduce by division ever second to form new cells with exactly the same genetic composition. These will replace older ones. At the same time, many older cells are dying. All of required labor for the renewal and elimination is performed by the enzymes encoded in those genes. Although the limited number of other cells do not actually divided to forms new once, such as some brains cells and the ova within the ovaries, they are maintained in a state of good health by our enzymes.


REFERENCES

Am J. Hum Genet. 1971 September; 23(5):513-532pmcid:
pmc17067672


Drugge U. Holmberg M. Holmgren G. Almay B.G. Linderholm H. Heredity Myopathy with lactic acidiosis, succinate dehygronase and aconitase deficiency in northern Sweden. A genealogical study. J.med genet 1995 may; 32(5):344-7.

Kollberg G. Tulinius M. Melberg A. Darin N. Andersen O. Holmgren D. Oldfors A. Home E. Clinical Manifestation and a new Iscu mutation in iron-sulphur cluster deficiency myopapthy. Brain-2009 Aug; 132 (pt 8): 2170-9 doi:10, 1093/brian/awp 152. Hub 2009 Jun. 30.

Rouault T.A., Topy W.H. Iron-sulphur cluster biogenesis and human disease. Trends Genet 2008 Aug. 24(8). 398-409. Epub 2008 Jul. 5 Review.

Wenger D.A., Rafi M.A., Luzip, Datto J., Constantino-Ceccarini E. Krabb Disease: genetic aspects and progress toward therapy. Mol Genetmetab.2000 May; 70(1): 1-9
Kollerg G. Tulinius M., Meiberg A. Darinto Anderson O.,

Holngren D., Oldfors A. Home E. Clinical manifestation and a
new iscu mutation in iron-sulphur cluster deficiency myopathy.
Brain-2009 Aug; 132 '(pt. 8): 2170-9 doi:10, 1093/brian/awp
152. Eub 2009 Jun. 30.

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE