ASP161 LYS183 SolutionInvertase is an enzyme that catalyzes

Solution

Invertase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis or breakdown of sugar. Invertases are also called as beta fructofuranosidase ( EC 3.2.1.26). Since invertases breakdown sucrose, the resulting mixture formed is a fructose and glucose and the resulting mixture is called inverted sugar, thus the name invertases.

The mechanism of action by this enzyme is the hydrolysis of the terminal nonreducing beta-fructofuranoside residues in beta-fructofuranosides. The figure shows presence of asp and glu residues as the conserved domains. This is because the active site of the invertase contain a carboxylate anion. An imidazole cation would protonate the glycosidic oxygen atom. This would lead to a formation of an unstable intermediate carbonium ion due to the departure of the neutral alcohol group. This will lead to electron deficiency spreading over the second carbon atom. The carboxylate anion would work by stabilising the electron deficient species.

This will be followed by a nucleophilic attack on the C-2 action , by an oxygen atom of either a water moiety or alcohol in order to yield a fructose or fructoside residue.