Enzymes are remarkable molecules that act as biological catalysts, meaning they significantly increase the rate of chemical reactions within living organisms without being consumed themselves. Their ability to achieve this feat lies within three key properties:
1. Higher Reaction Rates:
- Lowering Activation Energy: Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy of a reaction, which is the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to proceed. They achieve this by binding to reactant molecules (substrates) and bringing them together in a precise orientation that facilitates bond breaking and forming. This essentially lowers the “hill” the reaction needs to climb, allowing it to happen much faster.
- Stabilizing Transition States: Enzymes can also stabilize the transition state, which is the high-energy intermediate state between reactants and products. By stabilizing this state, they make it easier for the reaction to reach completion.