200 CHEMISTRY OF PLANT LIFE 



While there is a great variety of enzymes which may be pro- 

 duced by a single individual organism, the same enzyme may be 

 found in the greatest variety of organisms; as, for example, the 

 protease trypsin, which has been found in several species of bac- 

 teria, in the carnivorous plant known as " Venus' Fly Trap," 

 and in the human pancreas, as well as that of all other animals. 



FURTHER STUDIES NEEDED 



From the discussions which have been presented in this chap- 

 ter, it is apparent that the enzymes play a tremendously important 

 part in vital phenomena, by controlling the rate at which the bio- 

 chemical reactions take place in the cells of the living organism. 



The means by which the protoplasm elaborates these all- 

 important chemical compounds are as yet absolutely unknown. 

 Even the nature of the enzymes themselves is still a matter of 

 speculation and study. Much intensive study is needed and 

 should be given to these matters, for the purpose of elucidating 

 the methods by which the enzymes accomplish their remarkable 

 catalytic effects, and, if possible, the actual chemical nature of the 

 enzymes themselves. It is conceivable, of course, that if the latter 

 object of these studies should ever be reached, it might be possible 

 to synthetize enzymes artificially, and so to develop a means for 

 the artificial duplication of the synthesis of organic compounds 

 with the same velocity that this is done in the plant cells. Such a 

 result would have a scientific interest fully as great as did Wohler's 

 artificial synthesis of urea, which proved that there is no essential 

 difference in character between the compounds which are the 

 products of living organisms and those which are produced in the 

 laboratory; and, at the same time, might have an immensely 

 more important practical bearing, since it would lead the way to 

 the artificial production of the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, etc., 

 for which we are now dependent upon plant growth as the source 

 of these materials for use as human food. 



References 



BAYLISS, W. M. "The Nature of Enzyme Action," 186 pages, Monographs 



on Biochemistry, London, 1919 (4th ed.). 

 EULER, H., trans, by POPE, T. H. "General Chemistry of the Enzymes," 



319 pages, 7 figs., New York, 1912. 



