2006-12-11 10:25:29 · 5 answers · asked by Thomas M 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze (i.e. accelerate) chemical reactions. In these reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts these into different molecules, the products. 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 lowering the activation energy for a reaction and thus dramatically accelerating the rate of the reaction. By binding the transition-state conformation of the substrate/product molecules, the enzyme distorts the bound substrate(s) into their transition state form, thereby reducing the amount of energy required to complete the transition. Most natural enzymes accelerate their reaction many millions of times faster compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. 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.
2006-12-11 10:35:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Enzymes catalyze necessary chemical reactions that could take far too long to occur otherwise. They lower the "activation energy" required for a reaction (for example, breaking down or building certain chemicals that the body needs). We can process much more, much more quickly this way. The human body needs to be able to have things quickly in the right amounts, and enzymes allow for this.
2006-12-11 10:34:03 · answer #2 · answered by Sara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An enzyme helps decrease the skill of activation of a reaction. this suggests that without it the reaction can not take place. So enzymes help reactions take place. interior the physique, peptidases ruin down protein into undemanding areas referred to as amino acids...
2016-12-11 07:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Enzymes do a number of jobs...one in particular is breaking down food, so our bodies can better use the nutrients...here's a site with some good information
2006-12-11 10:35:08 · answer #4 · answered by VA Mamma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have a variety of functions including catalyst. some just chew up molecules so they can be recycled or further broken down though.
2006-12-11 10:43:03 · answer #5 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋