Enzymes are amazing molecular machines found in all living things that speed up chemical reactions. Imagine you have a recipe that takes hours to cook. An enzyme can be like a special ingredient that makes the recipe cook much faster. Enzymes are mostly proteins; each enzyme is specific to a particular chemical reaction.
How it works:
Substrate Binding: The molecules that an enzyme works on are called substrates. The substrate fits into a specific part of the enzyme called the active site, like a key fitting into a lock.
Reaction: Once the substrate is bound, the enzyme lowers the activation energy of the reaction, which is the energy required to get the reaction going. This makes the reaction happen much faster than it would without the enzyme.
Product Release: After the reaction, the product molecules are released from the enzyme, and the enzyme is free to start another reaction cycle.
Enzymes are essential for life. They are involved in almost every chemical reaction that takes place in our bodies, from digestion to the building of new tissues. A deficiency of a particular enzyme can cause health problems. For example, lactase is an enzyme that helps digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. People who are lactose intolerant lack lactase, which can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea after consuming milk products.