Q. How is the cooling of tissues and organs for medical transplants associated with the effect of temperature upon enzymatic reactions?
The molecular degradation during the decomposition of tissues and organs is catalyzed by enzymes. The cooling to adequate temperatures of some tissues and organs destined for transplantation reduces that enzyme activity and thus lessens the natural decomposition process. By the same rationale, to prevents degradation of their own structures to obtain energy and the cooling reduces the metabolic work of cells. Elevation of temperature later reverts denaturation of enzymes and the tissues and organs also preserved by other specific techniques may be grafted into the receptors.