The enzyme glucose oxidase binds the six-carbon sugar glucose and catalyzes its conversion to glucono-1,4-actone. Mannose is also a six-carbon sugar, but glucose oxidase cannot bind mannose. The specificity of glucose oxidase is based on the

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The specificity of enzymes is determined by the three-dimensional shape and structure of their active sites. Glucose oxidase has an active site that is complementary in shape and charge to glucose, allowing it to bind and catalyze the conversion of glucose to glucono-1,4-actone. However, mannose has a slightly different shape and charge distribution than glucose, preventing it from binding to the active site of glucose oxidase. This specificity allows enzymes to selectively bind and catalyze reactions for specific substrates.

The Enzyme Glucose Oxidase Binds the Six-Carbon Sugar Glucose and Catalyzes