Final answer:
Cells regulate enzymatic activity to ensure that the correct metabolic reactions occur according to the cell's needs, which are influenced by factors such as cell type, internal conditions, and environmental variables like pH and temperature. Regulation mechanisms include feedback inhibition and modulation by enzyme activators and inhibitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important for cells to regulate enzymatic activity because enzymes play a pivotal role in controlling the metabolic pathways by determining which chemical reactions occur and at what rates. These reactions must align with a cell's current requirements and conditions, such as those post-meal for digestive cells or in varying cell types like stomach cells compared to nerve cells. Enzyme regulation is influenced by environmental factors, like pH and temperature, as well as through the mechanism of feedback inhibition, where the products of a pathway inhibit the enzymes involved, usually allosterically.
Moreover, enzyme specificity and location within the cell are essential in this regulation to ensure that proper reactions happen at the right time and place. Compartmentalization, along with the activation and inhibition of enzymes by other molecules, are also key factors. Hence, the tight control of enzyme activity is crucial for the proper functioning and response to changing demands within the living cell.