Enzymes are biological catalysts, primarily proteins, that speed up the rate of specific chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process
. They work by binding to substrate molecules at a specific region called the active site, facilitating the transformation of substrates into products more efficiently
. Because of their specificity, each enzyme typically catalyzes only one type of reaction or acts on a particular substrate
. Enzymes are essential for numerous biological functions including digestion (breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates), metabolism, DNA replication, and detoxification in the liver
. They lower the activation energy required for reactions, allowing vital biochemical processes to occur rapidly enough to sustain life
. Enzymes remain unchanged after the reaction and can be reused repeatedly
. Structurally, enzymes are made up of chains of amino acids folded into complex three-dimensional shapes, which determine their function and specificity
. Environmental factors such as temperature and pH can affect enzyme activity by altering their shape, potentially denaturing them and rendering them inactive
. Beyond their biological roles, enzymes have important industrial and medical applications, including food production (e.g., brewing, cheese making), medicine (wound healing, disease diagnosis), and environmentally friendly industrial processes due to their ability to catalyze reactions efficiently at moderate conditions
. In summary, enzymes are vital protein catalysts that accelerate biochemical reactions critical for life and have broad applications in health and industry.
