What is the Difference Between Oxidases and Oxygenases?

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Oxidases and oxygenases are two types of enzymes that function as biocatalysts, facilitating oxidation-reduction reactions. They have some differences in their mechanisms and substrate interactions:

  • Oxidases:
  • Catalyze the transfer of two electrons from a donor to oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide.
  • Usually contain a flavin co-enzyme or metal in the active site to form LTQ and TPQ as a co-factor.
  • Examples include ascorbic acid oxidase, monoamine oxidase, and cytochrome oxidase.
  • Oxygenases:
  • Catalyze the incorporation of oxygen into a substrate.
  • Include dioxygenases that incorporate both oxygen atoms into a substrate and monooxygenases that incorporate a single oxygen atom as a hydroxyl group into the substrate.
  • Examples include carotenase, tryptophan pyrrolase, tyrosinase, and phenylalanine hydroxylase.

In summary, oxidases transfer hydrogen from a substrate to oxygen, resulting in the formation of water or hydrogen peroxide, while oxygenases directly incorporate oxygen into a substrate.

Comparative Table: Oxidases vs Oxygenases

Here is a table highlighting the differences between oxidases and oxygenases:

Feature Oxidases Oxygenases
Definition Oxidases are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of hydrogen from a substrate to oxygen in oxidation reactions, resulting in the formation of water or hydrogen peroxide. Oxygenases are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of atomic oxygen from molecular oxygen (O2) to a substrate.
Function Oxidases are responsible for building ATP that acts as the cell's energy storehouse. Oxygenases facilitate the breaking down of iron that is distributed to various parts of the body.
Types Examples of oxidases include ascorbic acid oxidase, monoamine oxidase, and cytochrome oxidase. Examples of oxygenases include carotenase, tryptophan pyrrolase, tyrosinase, and phenylalanine hydroxylase.
Reactions Oxidases catalyze the transfer of hydrogen from a substrate to an oxygen, producing water or hydrogen peroxide. Oxygenases catalyze the direct incorporation of the oxygen from the molecular O2 to a substrate. There are two types of oxygenases: mono-oxygenases, which incorporate one oxygen atom as a hydroxyl group to a substrate, and dioxygenases, which incorporate two atoms of oxygen to a substrate.

In summary, oxidases and oxygenases are both types of enzymes that function as biocatalysts, but they have distinct differences in their functions and reactions. Oxidases transfer hydrogen from a substrate to oxygen, while oxygenases transfer atomic oxygen from molecular oxygen to a substrate.