What is Isoenzym?
isoenzymes are enzymes that catalyze identical chemical reactions, but are composed of various amino acid sequences. Sometimes they are referred to as izozymes. Isoenzymes are produced by different genes and are not redundant despite their similar functions. They occur in many tissues throughout the body and are important for various developmental and metabolic processes. This may be the result of homologous to the recomination or repair of genes. When a natural selection prefers duplicate genetic material, as in cases where the same gene is useful for different processes, duplicate coding is maintained and isoenzymes formed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are examples of isoenzymes that are commonly used for this purpose.
LDH is essential for anaerobic respiration. When oxygen levels are low, LDH converts pyruvates into lactate and provides a source of muscle energy. This enzyme exists in five varieties of Isoenzyme in the human body, numbered LDH-1 via LDH-5 and can be found in variousH tissues, including heart, liver and lungs. For example, after a heart attack, the LDH-1 sera level is higher than the LDH-2 level, because the damaged heart tissue, which is rich in LDH-1, releases that isoenzyme into the bloodstream. High LDH-5 levels occur primarily in tumors and may indicate the presence of cancer.
ALP is an enzyme that removes phosphate groups from molecules in the body and is important for the proper function of liver, intestines and placenta. Abnormally high or low Alps may indicate different conditions, including liver disease, bone and pregnancy. The alp is also involved in bone growth and the high level of this isoenzyme may indicate new bone formation.
isoenzymes can be distinguished by gel electrophoresis. In the gel electrophoresis, the fragments of the isoenzyme are drawn by a thick gel with an electric charge. Each Isoenzym has its own distinct charge due to its unique andmino acid sequence. This allows the gel electrophoresis to separate the fragments on the belts for identification.
As molecular markers, isoenzymes are useful in population genetics. Isoenzyme studies are performed at the population level for analysis of genetic variations and gene flow. The presence of isoenzymes can be analyzed in cases of new phenotypes or physiological variations within the species.