Final answer:
Enzymes function in a specific way due to each enzyme having a unique three-dimensional structure formed by the specific folding of its amino acid chain, creating a characteristic active site tailored for their particular substrate(s).
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic that allows enzymes to function in a specific way is the fact that each enzyme has a characteristic shape from specific folds in the amino acid chain. This specific folding creates a unique three-dimensional structure and an active site that can bind selectively to its substrate, a phenomenon also known as enzyme specificity. The active site of the enzyme is a specially tailored pocket whose shape and chemical environment is ideally suited to interact with its particular substrate(s), leading to a biochemical reaction.
The active site of an enzyme adapts to the shape of the substrate in a process called induced fit, which enhances the enzyme's ability to catalyze chemical reactions. The specificity of enzymes is such that they can even distinguish between very similar molecules, and in some cases, between different stereoisomers. Moreover, enzymes are not rigid structures; they can undergo conformational changes, which play a role in facilitating catalysis and are also involved in regulatory mechanisms like allosteric regulation.