Enzymes Are Effective Biological Catalysts

Enzymes Are Effective Biological Catalysts

Of all the functions of proteins, catalysis is probably the most important. In the absence of catalysis, most reactions in biological systems would take place far too slowly to provide products at an adequate pace for a metabolizing organism. The catalysts that serve this function in organisms are called enzymes. With the exception of some RNAs (ribozymes) that have catalytic activity, all other enzymes are globular proteins. Enzymes are the most efÞcient catalysts known; they can increase the rate of a reaction by a factor of up to 10²⁰ over uncatalyzed reactions. Non- enzymatic catalysts, in contrast, typically enhance the rate of reaction by factors of 10² to 10⁴.

Summary

Catalysts are substances that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction.

Enzymes are the biological catalysts that speed up the metabolic reactions that occur in the body.

Most enzymes are globular proteins.