Final answer:
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in the body without being consumed. They are crucial for metabolic processes, allowing reactions to occur rapidly and efficiently at body temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is an Enzyme?
An enzyme is a biomolecule that serves as a biological catalyst. These are usually proteins, created by living cells, that accelerate the rate of chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. The substance upon which an enzyme acts is known as its substrate. Enzymes play a vital role in metabolic pathways by controlling the speed at which biochemical reactions occur, making it possible for life-sustaining processes to occur at a rate that supports life.
Function of Enzymes
Enzymes have various functions, such as aiding in the digestion of food or the synthesis of complex molecules. They are highly specific to their substrates due to the unique three-dimensional structures formed by the sequences of amino acids they contain. Once a substrate binds to the enzyme's active site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex, the reaction is catalyzed and the product is released, allowing the enzyme to act again. After a biochemical reaction, the enzyme remains unchanged and can continue to facilitate reactions. This characteristic is pivotal as it allows a small amount of enzyme to catalyze a large number of reactions over time.