How do enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions?

Enzymes function as biological catalysts that significantly enhance the rate of chemical reactions without undergoing permanent changes themselves. They achieve this primarily by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed for reactants to transform into products.

When enzymes bind to their specific substrates, they stabilize the transition state of the reaction, effectively making it easier for the reactants to convert into products. This reduction in activation energy means that more molecules have the necessary energy to undergo the reaction at a given temperature, leading to an increased rate of reaction.

This mechanism allows biological systems to operate efficiently under relatively mild conditions, such as body temperature, making enzyme activity vital for processes like digestion, metabolism, and DNA replication, among others.