“Lysozyme is a small enzyme that binds to polysaccharide chains and breaks them apart by hydrolysis. It has two structural domains. One domain is composed mostly of alpha helices, while the other domain is composed mostly of beta strands. The interface between the two domains forms a cleft in which the substrate binds. The structure shown here contains one of the products of the hydrolysis reaction. Lysozyme acts as a catalyst by adding a molecule of water to the bond between two sugars, breaking the bond. This reaction is catalyzed by two strategically positioned amino acid side chains in the enzymes active site: glutamate 35 and aspartate 52. The highlighted group on the reaction product shown here would have formed the bond cleaved in the reaction.”

Essential Cell Biology, Second Edition
by Alberts, Bray, Hopkin, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter
copyright 2004 by Garland Science Publishing