Definition of Substrate



A substrate is such a chemical species that tend to react with the reagent molecule and resultantly gives rise to a product. In some reactions, it is also referred to such a surface on which various chemical reactions can be performed. Therefore, we can say that the substrate plays a supporting role in a number of microscopic and spectroscopic methods.

 


It is quite a significant molecule in terms of biochemistry too. According to biochemistry, it is defined as that molecule on which an enzyme acts. The substrate forms a bonding with the active site of the enzyme and forms an enzyme-substrate complex. This ES complex is then catalyzed into the product and the enzyme is released as the enzyme does not get used up in a chemical reaction.

 


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