The key difference between isomerase and mutase enzyme is that isomerase is a class of enzymes that can convert an isomer to another isomer form of the same molecule, whereas mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme that can change the position of a functional group in a molecule without changing the chemical composition of the molecule.
Mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme where both enzymes can convert one isomer form to another isomer form of the same molecule by keeping the chemical composition constant.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Isomerase Enzyme
3. What is Mutase Enzyme
4. Similarities Between Isomerase and Mutase Enzyme
5. Isomerase vs Mutase Enzyme in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Isomerase Enzyme?
Isomerase is a class of enzymes that is able to convert a molecule from its one isomer form to another. These enzymes can facilitate intramolecular rearrangements where chemical bonds break down and re-form. In this type of reaction, there is only one substrate that can yield one product. Usually, this final product has the same molecular formula as the substrate because they are isomers, but they have different bond connectivity or spatial arrangements. Typically, an isomerase enzyme can catalyze chemical reactions in many biological processes, including glycolysis and carbohydrate metabolism.
Isomerase enzyme can catalyze the changes within a molecule. These enzymes can convert an isomer to another isomer where the final product and the initial substrate both have the same chemical formula but different physical structures. Generally, there are two types of isomers as structural isomers and stereoisomers. Structural isomers have different bond connectivity, while stereoisomers have the same bond connectivity but different 3D arrangement.
There are different types of isomerase enzymes, including racemases, epimerases, cis-trans isomerases, intramolecular oxidoreductases, intramolecular transferases, intramolecular lyases, etc.
What is Mutase Enzyme?
Mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme that is involved in catalyzing the movement of a functional group from one position to another position within the same molecule. In other words, mutase enzymes can catalyze chemical reactions where rearrangement of a molecule occurs through a change of positions of the functional groups in the molecule. This type of chemical reaction is named an intramolecular group transfer.
Some examples of mutase enzymes include bisphosphoglycerate mutase and phosphoglycerate mutase. These two enzymes are involved in the movement of the phosphate groups from one place to another within the same substrate molecule. E.g. in glycolysis, these enzymes can convert 3-phosphoglycerate into 2-phosphoglycerate. Since the chemical composition of the substrate molecule remains the same, it is a type of isomerase enzyme.
Similarities Between Isomerase and Mutase Enzyme
- Both can change the molecular structure, but the chemical composition remains the same in the substrate molecule
Difference Between Isomerase and Mutase Enzyme
Mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme where both enzymes can convert one isomer form to another isomer form of the same molecule by keeping the chemical composition constant. Therefore, the key difference between isomerase and mutase enzyme is that isomerase is a class of enzymes that can convert an isomer to another isomer form of the same molecule, whereas mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme that can change the position of a functional group in a molecule without changing the chemical composition of the molecule.
Below is a summary of the difference between isomerase and mutase enzyme in tabular form.
Summary – Isomerase vs Mutase Enzyme
Mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme where both enzymes can convert one isomer form to another isomer form of the same molecule by keeping the chemical composition constant. The key difference between isomerase and mutase enzyme is that isomerase is a class of enzymes that can convert an isomer to another isomer form of the same molecule, whereas mutase enzyme is a type of isomerase enzyme that can change the position of a functional group in a molecule without changing the chemical composition of the molecule.
Reference:
1. “Mutase.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Phosphoglucose Isomerase Mechanism” (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia