Question

Salivary α-amylase cleaving α(1 → 4) glycosidic bond of carbohydrates is an example for which type of specificity?

(a) Group specificity

(b) Bond specificity

(c) Reaction specificity

(d) Broad substrate specificity

I had been asked this question by my college director while I was bunking the class.

My question is based upon Specificity of Enzyme Action in chapter Enzymes of Enzyme Technology

Answer 1

Right choice is (b) Bond specificity

To explain: Bond specificity is one which the enzyme acts on more than substrate containing a particular kind of bond. Hence, Salivary α-amylase cleaving α(1 → 4) glyosidic bond of carbohydrates is an example for bond specificity. The specificity in which an enzyme acts on more than substrate containing particular group is referred to as Group specificity. Reaction specificity is one which the enzyme is specific to a particular reaction, but not substrate and catalyzes only one type of reaction. Broad substrate specificity is one in which the enzyme acts on more than one structurally related substrates.