Question

Enzymes are proteins that act as _____ for biological reactions.

Answer 1

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts for biological reactions.

Enzymes work specifically to speed up the rate of the chemical reactions that occur inside a cell. They are needed for vital life functions. They aid in digestion and metabolism, They are so important that if one enzyme is missing or defective, the effects would be devastating.

Answer 2

The answer is catalysts. Catalysts speed up the rate of a reaction without getting consumed in the process. Catalysts, in this case, enzymes act by reducing the activation energy or changing the reaction mechanism (such as foregoing some transition states). A popular enzyme is a carbonic anhydrase that catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid in the blood plasma (from carbon dioxide and water), a critical function in regulating blood pH.