Answer to Question #250618 in Biochemistry for Vee

Question

Enzymes are protein catalysts; they influence the kinetics but not the thermodynamics of a reaction. Discuss.

Answer 1

Enzymes lower the activation energy of the reaction but do not change the free energy of the reaction. A substance that helps a chemical reaction to occur is called a catalyst, and the molecules that catalyze biochemical reactions are called enzymes. Without enzymes to speed up these reactions, life could not persist.