How do hormones differ from enzymes?
Hormones and enzymes are both effective in small amounts and are not consumed in the many
metabolic processes they influence or initiate. But the resemblance soon ends. Enzymes are almost always
protein (although some evidence for enzymatic properties of an RNA species has been reported), while
hormones may be proteins, shorter peptides, single amino acids and derivatives, or steroids. Enzymes may
be synthesized within a cell to function there or may be secreted to the exterior through active transport
processes and even pass along a duct to a specific locale. Hormones are released directly into the bloodstream
and are distributed throughout the body, where they may exert their effects upon a number of different
target tissues.
Enzymes are generally highly specific, catalyzing a single reaction or type of reaction. Hormones have
a range of eff ects, some of which may be quite profound. Hormones may demonstrate different but significant
actions on different tissues in the same organism or show very different effects in different organisms. This
is not usually the case for enzymes.
Hormones play a key role in the maintenance of their levels through negative feedback involving
tropic hormones and the releasing factors of the hypothalamus; this is not paralleled by enzymes.
Hormones and enzymes are both effective in small amounts and are not consumed in the many
metabolic processes they influence or initiate. But the resemblance soon ends. Enzymes are almost always
protein (although some evidence for enzymatic properties of an RNA species has been reported), while
hormones may be proteins, shorter peptides, single amino acids and derivatives, or steroids. Enzymes may
be synthesized within a cell to function there or may be secreted to the exterior through active transport
processes and even pass along a duct to a specific locale. Hormones are released directly into the bloodstream
and are distributed throughout the body, where they may exert their effects upon a number of different
target tissues.
Enzymes are generally highly specific, catalyzing a single reaction or type of reaction. Hormones have
a range of eff ects, some of which may be quite profound. Hormones may demonstrate different but significant
actions on different tissues in the same organism or show very different effects in different organisms. This
is not usually the case for enzymes.
Hormones play a key role in the maintenance of their levels through negative feedback involving
tropic hormones and the releasing factors of the hypothalamus; this is not paralleled by enzymes.
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