Final answer:
Enzyme activation refers to the process of lowering the activation energy of a reaction through the formation of an enzyme-substrate complex, facilitated by induced fit, which creates an optimal environment for the reaction. Option 3) induced fit has subjected the substrate to a chemical environment that lowers EA is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an enzyme binds to a substrate and activates it, activation means that the induced fit has subjected the substrate to a chemical environment that lowers the activation energy (EA). The process of an enzyme binding to a substrate involves the formation of an enzyme-substrate complex. This complex is crucial because it brings the substrates into an optimal orientation and creates a unique chemical environment that is conducive to the reaction.
Enzymes are proteins with active sites specifically shaped to bind to one or more substrates. Upon binding, enzymes can undergo a conformational change, adjusting their shape to fit the substrate more snugly - a concept known as induced fit. This change helps in lowering the activation energy for the reaction but does not alter the overall free energy (ΔG) of the reaction. Therefore, the enzyme does not increase the kinetic energy in the substrate directly, nor does it lower the ΔG for the reaction. Instead, it lowers the activation energy by creating the right conditions or by contorting the substrate molecules to facilitate bond-breaking and formation.