Isoenzymes

Isoenzymes (also isozymes ) are proteins that differ in their genetically determined primary structure (amino acid sequence) but catalyze the same chemical reaction. They can be present in different tissues of one organism, in one cell (both eukaryotic - subcellular and prokaryotic) and in serum. The existence of these enzymes was revealed by electrophoresis.

Importance in medicine
From a medical point of view, the fact that in some pathological conditions the proportion of isoenzymes in the serum changes and it is possible to consider damage to the organ whose isoenzyme predominates in the serum (a typical case is the monitoring of lactate dehydrogenase ).

related articles
Enzymes

Resources

 * MURRAY, Robert K, Daryl K GRANNER and Peter A MAYES, et al. Harper's biochemistry. 4th edition. Prague: H & H, 2002. 872 pp. 71-72. ISBN 80-7319-013-3.