Question

Are all (biological) enzymes made of proteins?If not can you name some and give your opinion why is it not.

Answer 1

Yes and No. All the enzymes that we know of are proteins except ribozymes. These are basically RNA that function as a ribonucleic acid enzyme (Ribozyme). Enzymes just means that they are biological catalysts. So, except ribozyme all other enzymes are proteins. I hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

then @xenotech what is ribozymes made of?

Answer 3

RNA. Basically RNA curled and twisted together to form an enzyme itself. RNA is ribonucleic acid. It contains the bases adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine. and a 2'OH group unlike DNA which has a 2'H group.

Answer 4

Like this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Full_length_hammerhead_ribozyme.png

Answer 5

Does it deal with anything like reproduction? it looks like DNA.

Answer 6

It doesn't directly deal with reproduction. They are really RARE in the cells normally. It is believed that that is how life first started. Before DNA, RNA formed enzymes by itself and performed catalytic activity, but since they are unstable, it could have finally led to an evolution into DNA, which are pretty stable. Now DNA DON'T do enzymatic activity by themselves. They just serve as a blueprint to form proteins through transcription and translation. One currently active example of a ribozyme is the functional part of the ribosome that is responsible for translation of mRNA into amino acid sequences. The small subunit of the ribosome is basically rRNA that is responsible for binding of the mRNA to the ribosome and recognition. I am just giving a brief idea to you how it works. I hope this helps :)

Answer 7

Here's a Wikipedia overview article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribozyme

Answer 8

Thanks a lot.

Answer 9

No problem! Cheers! :)