Why are enzymes needed by the cell?
en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions. They are needed by cells for various reasons:
1. Speeding up reactions: Enzymes can greatly accelerate the rate of chemical reactions. Without enzymes, many of these reactions would occur too slowly to support life.
2. Lowering activation energy: Enzymes lower the energy barrier, called activation energy, required for a chemical reaction to occur. By reducing this energy barrier, enzymes enable reactions to happen at a much faster rate.
3. Specificity: Enzymes are highly specific in the reactions they catalyze. Each enzyme recognizes and binds to a particular substrate (the molecule it acts upon) and converts it into a specific product. This specificity ensures that only the necessary reactions take place, preventing unwanted side reactions.
4. Regulation: Enzymes play a crucial role in regulating the metabolic processes within cells. They can be activated or inhibited by various factors, allowing cells to control the rates of chemical reactions and maintain biochemical balance.
To learn more about enzymes and their diverse functions in the cell, you can visit this link: [en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Enzyme](en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Enzyme).