What is an enzyme?

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that enables reactions to occur by decreasing the activation energy they need. Not only would certain reactions not take place without the enzyme, they are also important in speeding up reactions, which is vital for certain biological processes and for the survival of organisms. An enzyme has an active site, which is specific for a given substrate, which allows it to catalyze only the reactions it's tailored for. 

Answered by Kristina F. Biology tutor

2456 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why an enzyme like maltase is specific to the breakdown of maltose.


How can a diet high in fats lead to heart disease?


How does PCR work?


examiners can ask us to design an experiment in order to explore an aspect of ecology. How would I go about doing this?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences