Question

Which of the following is not involved in covalent catalysis?

(a) Bases which catalyze the reaction by accepting a proton

(b) Electron rich nucleophilic function group of amino acid side chain

(c) Electron deficient electrophilic portion of substrate

(d) Acylated, phosphorylated or glycosylated enzyme nucleophile as covalent intermediate

The question was posed to me in homework.

This intriguing question comes from Mechanism of Enzyme Catalysis in section Enzyme Assay & Enzyme Catalysis of Enzyme Technology

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) Bases which catalyze the reaction by accepting a proton

The best I can explain: The following are involved in covalent catalysis:

• Electron rich nucleophilic function group of amino acid side chain.

• Electron deficient electrophilic portion of substrate.

• Acylated, phosphorylated or glycosylated enzyme nucleophile as covalent intermediate.

“Bases which catalyze the reaction by accepting a proton.” These are involved in acid base catalysis.