What does an enzyme do?
A consumes substrate
B heats up the substrate
C combines with substrate
D binds to substrate and converts it to product
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D: binds to substrate and converts it to product.
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms. It does this by binding to a specific molecule called the substrate. When the substrate binds to the enzyme at a special region known as the active site, the enzyme facilitates the chemical reaction that transforms the substrate into a different molecule called the product.
Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed. Activation energy is the initial energy needed to start a chemical reaction. By reducing this barrier, enzymes allow reactions to happen faster and more efficiently without being consumed or permanently changed in the process.
The interaction between an enzyme and its substrate is very specific, often compared to a lock and key, where only the right substrate fits into the enzyme’s active site. After the substrate is converted into the product, the product is released from the enzyme, which can then bind to new substrate molecules to repeat the process.
Enzymes do not consume the substrate; instead, they help transform it. They also do not produce heat to cause the reaction, nor do they simply combine with the substrate without changing it. Their main role is to catalyze the conversion of substrates into products by providing a favorable environment for the reaction.
This ability to speed up biochemical reactions is essential for all life processes, including digestion, DNA replication, and cellular respiration. Without enzymes, many of these reactions would occur too slowly to sustain life.