what does an enzyme do?

Answer 1

It speeds up chemical reactions in your body.

Answer 2

The simple answer is that enzymes CONTROL the rate of a chemical reaction. Every cell in our bodies contains huge numbers of different chemicals which must react together, combine or divide into other chemicals as a basic part of our life functions. Without these reactions the cells (and therefore our bodies) would die. Other processes, such as the digestion of food (which technically takes place outside the human body) are also chemical reactions on which we depend for life. Most of these reactions would occur "naturally" if these chemicals were left together long enough to do their own thing but often this would not be at a rate or in a quantity which is required to support the life of the cell or body.
This is where enzymes come in. As I said, enzymes are proteins which control the rate of a chemical reaction - the amount of a particular enzyme will control the rate of a chemical process, usually (but not always!) by speeding it up. In reality things may get more complex: Sometimes two or more enzymes are involved in a reaction, the amount of each being used to regulate various stages of a reaction. Bear in mind that enzymes themselves are also chemicals which must be made in the body - a process controlled by (yep, you guessed it!) more enzymes. In this way you can get a compex chain of events or "cascade" which allows incredibly subtle "fine tuning" to any reaction or series of reactions.
A simple example:
Reaction A + B = C is controlled by Enzyme X.
A lack of C triggers the production of Enzyme X
Once C reaches the desired quantity Enzyme Y is produced which breaks down Enzyme X and slows the production of C
The production of Enzymes X and Y might in turn be controlled by Enzymes W and Z and so on.
All of this means that the myriad reactions taking place which our bodies depend on occur at just the right speed, in the right amounts and at the right times.

Answer 3

An enzyme is a protein in the form of a catalyst. A catalyst ignites or starts something. An enzyme starts chemical ractions in your body and any other living thing's body.

Answer 4

(m)

An enzyme is a protein molecule that speeds up chemical reactions. Each enzyme has a unique shape that determines its function. One enzyme works on one type of substrate.

The enzyme, Amylase has a shape that allows its to wrap around starch(substrate) and cut it up into individual glucose units.

Answer 5

lowers the activation energy for a chemical change to take place
ex: if a+b make c but the activation energy is 240kj the enzyme may lower the activation to 100kj which would make the a+b =c event happen more often. but only till an equilibrium is reached

Answer 6

A complex organic substance usually a protein produced by cells and having the power to initiate or accelerate specific chemical reactions in the metabolism of plants and animals

Answer 7

enzymes do a lot for the body. They either catalyze chemical reactions in the body or inhibit them, depending on what your body needs.

Answer 8

Enzymes r biochemical substances that speed up reactoins like digestion, nutrition, excreation...

Answer 9

Speeds up chemical reactions in the body.

Answer 10

they are biological catalysts which alter the speed of biplogical processes.the may increase the speed (positive catalyst) or decrease the speed(negative catalyst)