Enzymes are biological molecules, usually proteins, that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions. Their primary task is to speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy, making the processes more efficient. Enzymes participate in a wide range of biological functions, including digestion, energy production, DNA replication and cell growth.
Each type of enzyme is specific to a particular reaction, and they interact with specific substrates to catalyze the conversion of those substrates into products. This key-lock principle makes the enzymes remarkably specific and efficient. Temperature, pH and other environmental conditions can affect enzyme activity. The study of enzymes is critical to understanding biochemical processes and has applications in medicine, industry and biotechnology.
