Final answer:
Carbonic anhydrase is one of the fastest enzymes, catalyzing the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into bicarbonate and protons, with approximately one million reactions per second.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the fastest enzymes in the human body is carbonic anhydrase. This enzyme catalyzes the reaction that converts carbon dioxide (the substrate) and water into bicarbonate and protons (the products).
Specifically, a single molecule of carbonic anhydrase can transform about one million molecules of carbon dioxide per second in human blood. This reaction is essential for maintaining the acid-base balance in the blood and for allowing carbon dioxide to be transported from tissues to the lungs for exhalation.
Enzymes like carbonic anhydrase are efficient biological catalysts that increase the rate of biochemical reactions without being consumed, functioning optimally under specific conditions such as temperature and pH.