[jbovlaste] Re: catalyst

["* Hieran Makhwali" <sarefo@googlemail.com>]

> I heard that an enzyme is not necessarily a protein.

there are ribonucleic acids that act as catalysts, but they are
relatively rare, and you wouldn't call them "enzyme".

> If {selfusra} does not specifically mean organic catalysts, I'm fine with
> that.

not only is it restricted to bio-catalysts imo, but even to those that
facilitate catabolic reactions. but as i said, enzymes are very
important in anabolic reactions, and for example repair DNA etc.

i'd really think it would be best to define "catalyst" in a generic
way, and then specify if it is from metal, protein, or RNA.

> By the way, this passage got my attention:
> Over the past century, the precise classification of inorganic vs organic
> compounds has become less important to scientists, primarily because the
> majority of known compounds are synthetic and not of natural origin.
> Furthermore, most compounds considered the purview of modern inorganic
> chemistry contain organic ligands.
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inorganic_compound)

i used "organic" in a non-nomenclatory way (i was tired, and hoped
no-one notices). i ment it to say "part of living organisms", not
organic vs inorganic in the chemist way.

-- 
Peas on Earth, Lettuce be free. You have big feet!