Enzymes in Life - Multiple Physiological Activities and Pathological Manifestations

Dear Colleagues,

Enzymes are ubiquitous protein-based catalysts found in all kinds of life and are essential to the proper functioning of all living organisms. Enzymes' primary purpose is to accelerate the rate and effectiveness of a chemical reaction without being consumed. Enzymes catalyze all chemical reactions involved in development, blood coagulation, healing, respiration, digestion, and numerous other biological processes. Enzymes participate in signal transduction, macromolecule degradation, energy generation, ion pumps, defense and clearance, cell regulation, movement generation, transport of intracellular substances around the cell, immune responses, aging processes, etc. On the other hand, enzymes' enormous catalytic potential, remarkable substrate selectivity, and pH and temperature optimum make these biomolecules excellent markers. In many illnesses, such as myocardial infarction, jaundice, pancreatitis, cancer, neurological disorders, infectious and metabolic diseases, among others, enzymes are the preferred pharmacological targets. Many drugs have been created to target malfunctioning enzymes, and enzymes have also been used directly as therapeutic drugs, such as pepsin to treat dyspepsia. In conclusion, enzymes shed light on the disease process by assessing the prognosis, response to treatment, and diagnosis.

This Special Issue is dedicated to all remarkable enzymes from humans, plants, bacteria, and other organisms since their ubiquity and critical function in many physiologic and pathologic processes make them a particularly promising target for the scientific community.

Original papers, review articles, and perspectives from experts in the field are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Clemente Capasso
Guest Editor

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• enzymes
• catabolism
• metabolism
• physiological functions
• metabolic perturbation
• proteolytic processing
• protein demolition
• human diseases
• pathological conditions
• bacterial infections
• plant response
• specificity
• molecular targets