Enzyme

The word “enzyme” is derived from the Modern Greek “enzumos,” which directly translates into “leavened.” Enzymes are generally biological molecules that living organisms produce in order to catalyze (which, in this case, to increase the speed or rates of) specific biochemical reactions. The substrates, which are what molecules are called at the beginning of the enzymatic reaction, will be converted into different molecules, known as products. Almost every chemical reaction that occurs in a biological cell will need enzymes in order to perform at a rate that is sufficient for sustaining life.

As with other biological catalysts, enzymes function through the process of lowering the activation energy for a reaction. This process will dramatically increase the rate of the enzymatic reaction and will allow the products (the result of enzymatic reactions) to form faster, and for reactions to achieve their equilibrium states in a shorter amount of time. With the use of enzymes as catalysts, the reactions are a million times faster than those reactions that do not utilize enzymes.

The activity of enzymes can be affected by other molecules. Inhibitors are known to be molecules that decrease the activity of enzymes, while activators are known as molecules that increase the activity of enzymes. Many kinds of drugs and poisons function as enzyme inhibitors. The activity of enzymes can also be affected by pressure, temperature, the chemical environment, and the concentration of a specific substrate.

There are enzymes that are used for commercial purposes, such as in the synthesis of various antibiotics. Some household products use enzymes in order to speed up several biochemical reactions—enzymes are known to be used in biological washing powders that are designed to break down protein and fat stains on clothes.

This category contains scientific information on enzymes, which are biological molecules that living organisms produce in order to catalyze (which, in this case, to increase the speed or rates of) specific biochemical reactions.