what is a enzyme?

Answer 1

Hello!
An enzyme is a like a catalyst (in chemistry). It is a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body WITHOUT being used up. An example would be the enzyme amylase in saliva converts starch to a simple sugar (maltose).
Hope that helps!!

Answer 2

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze, or accelerate, chemical reactions. Enzymes are biochemical catalysts. In these reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts these into different molecules. Almost all processes in the cell need enzymes in order to occur at significant rates. Since enzymes are extremely selective for their substrates and speed up only a few reactions from among many possibilities, the set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell.

Like all catalysts, enzymes work by providing an alternative path of lower activation energy for a reaction and thus dramatically accelerate the rate of the reaction. Some enzymes can make their conversion of substrate to product occur many millions of times faster. As with all catalysts, enzymes are not consumed by the reactions they catalyze, nor do they alter the equilibrium of these reactions. However, enzymes do differ from most other catalysts by being much more specific.

Answer 3

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze, or accelerate, chemical reactions. Enzymes are biochemical catalysts. In these reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts these into different molecules. Almost all processes in the cell need enzymes in order to occur at significant rates. Since enzymes are extremely selective for their substrates and speed up only a few reactions from among many possibilities, the set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell.

Like all catalysts, enzymes work by providing an alternative path of lower activation energy for a reaction and thus dramatically accelerate the rate of the reaction. Some enzymes can make their conversion of substrate to product occur many millions of times faster. As with all catalysts, enzymes are not consumed by the reactions they catalyze, nor do they alter the equilibrium of these reactions. However, enzymes do differ from most other catalysts by being much more specific. Enzymes are known to catalyze about 4,000 biochemical reactions.[1] Not all biochemical catalysts are proteins, since some RNA molecules called ribozymes can also catalyze reactions.

Enzyme activity can be affected by other molecules. Inhibitors are molecules that decrease enzyme activity, and activators are molecules that increase activity. Drugs and poisons are often enzyme inhibitors. Enzyme activity is also affected by temperature, pH, and the concentration of substrate. Some enzymes are used commercially, for example, in the synthesis of antibiotics. In addition, some household products use enzymes to speed up biochemical reactions (e.g., enzymes in biological washing powders break down protein or fat stains on clothes; enzymes in steak tenderizers breakdown long meat proteins, making them easier to chew)

Answer 4

Enzymes are substances that catalyse biological reactions.They are proteins. Enzymes can bring about reactions in aqueous solution at the pH and temperature of living organisms.Compared to other catalysts enzymes are very specific because the substrate fits the active site of the enzyme as a key fits a lock. the active site binds the substrate and catalyses the reaction. Their catalytic activity depends on their tertiary structure.

Answer 5

Enzyme is a chemical that is needed to initiate a chemical reaction. But this chemical itself takes no part in the reaction. Just its presence is needed.

Answer 6

A protein molecule with a specific shape which accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Answer 7

it's a chemical that helps to break something down.
eg. there are stomach enzymes which help to break down the food we eat.

Answer 8

it is somthing that helps break somthing else down. for example there is an enzyme in your spit which breaks down starch into sugar. there are enzymes in biological washing powder which break down dirty.

Answer 9

A chemical produced by a living cell that can affect the way a cell operates.

Answer 10

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enzyme gl...