Enzymes.+The+Jeans+Factory+(David+Hsiao)

=__Enzymes. The Jeans Factory__=

Jeans come in many shapes and sizes. Not only do they come in those varieties, but they also come in many different types: faded, bootleg, baggy, etc.. One very popular type of denim in today's fashion is the faded appearance of the jeans. The jeans that bear the facade of having been through weeks, or perhaps months of years, of wearing out and damage. This appearance on the jeans is actually, in fact, created by the most miniscule of molecules found even in the human body: **enzymes**. Enzymes are the producers of so many styles of denim. Faded or worn out, they are all created by the same **enzymes: amlyase**, **pectinase**, **catalase**, and **cellulase**.

=What is an enzyme?=


 * Enzymes** are molecules composed of **proteins** within the human body that help to catalyze chemical reactions. **Catalysts** such as enzymes help to increase the speed of chemical reactions. Catalysts reduce the **Activation Energy** needed for a reaction. The less energy required, the less time it takes for a reaction to occur. Therefore, enzymes are very important not only in the jeans industry, but to all people alike. Without these enzymes constantly working, human beings couldn't live the way we do today. Digestion, breathing, and many other bodily functions require enzymes to work properly.

Enzymes are made up of a protein called the **apoenzyme** and a non-protein called the **prosthetic group.** A model that explains how enzymes work with such efficieny is the "lock and key" model. The lock and key model states that the **apoenzyme** has a cavity or convex shape to it somewhere. This area is called the **active site,** where reactions occur. At this active site, we can bind a reactant molecule called a **substrate** to it. The substrate is hopefully positioned to fit with the apoenzyme by the prosthetic group. After piecing together, the enzyme begins to act as a catalyst. Some factors that affect how well **enzymes** function are: **temperature**, **acidity**, and **active site blockage**.
 * Temperature**: Most enzymes have certain ranges for temperatures that they can function within. They either function slowly, well, or not at all. There is a low-end of this temperature continuum where the temperature is low and the enzyme functions at a **low activity rate**. The next range of temperatures, near the middle section of this temperature spectrum, the enzymes function at an **optimal** **rate**. And last but not least, any temperature outside these two ranges cause the enzymes to cease to function completely.


 * Acidity:** Like temperature, enzymes function also by pH ranges (The pH of a substance tests the acidity of a substance.). Enzymes are extremely sensitive to any change in pH. Therefore, the ranges and margins tend to be rather small. With acidity though, the enzymes function a bit differently. If an enzyme happens to falls below a certain pH level needed for the specific enzyme, the enzyme will cease to function completely, leaving the chemical reaction useless. If the pH rises over the range, then the enzyme will change form so drastically that the "lock and key" model presented before will no longer work and therefore, halting the enzyme's functions.


 * Active Site Blockage:** At rarer times, when molecules "compete" with each other to be the enzyme's reactant, the active site will block up due to an abundance of reactatnts and only one active site. This will cause the enzyme to cease functioning.

=How do enzymes factor in with JEANS?= Many are under the assumption that their jeans they wear everyday are just worn out, torn, and faded by people. But, in fact, this process is actually a very laborious task. Before enzymes came into play, faded jeans had to be rubbed manually with pumice stones. This was otherwise known as "stone washing". This wasn't a very efficient way of producing faded jeans. And this, is where enzymes can be of service. The main enzyme needed in fading jeans, is **cellulase**. Cellulase is a unique enzyme as it breaks down **cellulose**.

Jeans all over the world are mainly made up of **cotton**. Cotton is a main ingredient in creating jeans, and cellulose happens to be a main component in cotton. When cellulase and the cellulose come into contact, the enzyme begins to break down the cellulose. This then, destroys and breaks apart the texture on the surface of the jeans.



Through many years of study and research, jeans are now a lot more efficiently turned into the "faded" and "worn out" ones we love. The need for pumice stone rubbing has now become obsolete, and enzymes have completed the job that used to take a lot of time and effort, whereas now, it is a lot simpler.

Enzymes are one of the major factors in our having of jeans that are faded or unique in some way.


 * By David Hsiao SL Biology Block E**

http://www.enzymeindia.com/textiles.html http://members.aol.com/logan20/catalyst.html http://otl.sinica.edu.tw/en/index.php?t=9&group_id=21&article_id=144 http://www.americanbiosystems.com/industrial.php
 * //Sources://**