The “lock-and-key” theory is a fundamental concept in molecular biology that explains the specificity of enzymes and their substrates. The theory was first proposed by Emil Fischer in 1894 and has since become an essential basis for understanding the processes of biological catalysis (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2018). The theory states that an enzyme and […]
Definition and Scope of the Substrate Concept The term substrate is fundamental across numerous scientific disciplines, serving generally to denote a foundational substance, surface, or medium upon which a process, reaction, or organism depends or occurs. Its precise interpretation is highly context-dependent, ranging from a chemical reactant in an enzyme-mediated biological pathway to the physical […]