Overview
An enzyme is a protein (or in some cases an RNA molecule) that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed.
Key points
- Enzymes lower the activation energy of reactions.
- They are specific to substrates and often named with the -ase suffix.
- Activity can be affected by temperature, pH, and inhibitors.
For a short example: the enzyme amylase helps break down starches into sugars during digestion.