title: [The origin and early development of biological catalysts].
abstract: Biochemical processes are based on the catalytic activity of enzymes. Highly ordered stereometry of protein macromolecules perfectly adapted to fyziological function of enzymes is the result of a long evolution. Catalytic processes, e.g. inorganic catalysis on the surface of cosmic dust grains, or on the surface of clay particles on the Earth, occurred as early as during chemical evolution. Enzyme predecessors in prebiotic systems-probably, thermal polymers of amino acids (proteinoids)-were polyfunctional catalysts. Low-effective proteinoids have been replaced by the highly efficient and specific enzymes in the course of evolution; spatial and temporal co-ordination of the individual enzymes has developed instead of the proteinoid polyfunctionality. The comprehensive effect of the mixtures of hydrolytic enzymes in systemic enzyme therapy can be regarded as a as a sort of reflection of these evolutionary trends.
authors.affiliation: Sekce enzymoterapie Spolecnosti vseobecného lékarství CLS J. E. Purkynĕ, Praha.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Masinovský
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular
vernacular_title: Vznik a raný vývoj biologických katalyzátorů.