抄録
Highly specific and effective catalysis exhibited by enzyme is realized through the three dimensional structure of enzyme protein. For its structure many interactions are working. Besides the interprotein (inter-polypeptide) interactions, those between waters (in and on the protein) and the polypeptides are very important. The hydration of enzyme protein has a dynamic character and coupled with the kinetic function of the catalyst.
To understand the importance of the hydration of enzyme protein, the studies on the pressure dependence of enzyme reactions, mainly protease reactions, carried out in the authors' laboratories, are summarized. The studies on the sequential hydration of dried enzyme (lysozyme) and those on the enzyme reactions (lipase) in organic solvent are also briefly reviewed.
