What role do enzymes play in biological reactions?

Enzymes are biological catalysts, which means they facilitate and speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process. The primary role of enzymes is to lower the activation energy needed for a reaction to occur. Activation energy is the energy required to start a reaction; by reducing this energy barrier, enzymes make it easier for the reaction to proceed. This allows the reaction to occur more quickly and efficiently, which is crucial for maintaining life processes.

For example, in metabolic pathways, enzymes help convert substrates into products in a more efficient manner, thereby supporting essential functions such as digestion, energy production, and cellular communication. By lowering the activation energy, enzymes not only increase the rate of biochemical reactions but also enable these processes to occur under the mild conditions of temperature and pressure that are typical of biological systems.