HESI A2 SCIENCE Practice Test

Enzymes primarily function as catalysts in biochemical reactions. This means that they accelerate the rate of a reaction without being consumed or permanently altered in the process. By lowering the activation energy required for reactions to occur, enzymes facilitate the conversion of substrates into products more efficiently.

For instance, in metabolic pathways, the presence of enzymes enables various biochemical processes, such as digestion, energy production, and DNA replication, to occur at a pace necessary for life. Enzymes specifically bind to substrates at their active site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex, which stabilizes the transition state and makes it easier for the reaction to proceed.

Understanding that enzymes are not reactants themselves, but rather aid in the reaction, highlights their role in maintaining and regulating biochemical processes essential for living organisms.