Enzymes

Enzymes lower the activation energy of chemical reactions, allowing them to proceed faster. Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or set of reactions.

• Active Site: The region on the enzyme where the substrate binds, facilitating the reaction.
• Substrate Specificity: Enzymes are specific to their substrates, meaning each enzyme only catalyzes a specific reaction.
• Cofactors and Coenzymes: Non-protein molecules that assist in enzyme activity, often by carrying chemical groups between reactions.

Enzymes are sensitive to environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and substrate concentration. These factors affect the enzyme's activity and efficiency.

• Temperature: Each enzyme has an optimal temperature at which it functions most efficiently; too high or too low can denature the enzyme.
• pH: Enzymes also have an optimal pH range; deviations from this range can reduce activity or denature the enzyme.
• Concentration: Increasing substrate concentration increases reaction rate to a point, after which the enzymes become saturated.