For any reaction to occur, even one that releases energy, some energy must be added for the

reaction to get going. This energy is needed to break bonds in the reacting molecules. The energy needed to start a chemical reaction is called activation energy, Ea. This required energy input represents a barrier that prevents even energy releasing reactions from occurring without some added energy. How does a living cell overcome this energy barrier so that its metabolic reactions can occur quickly and precisely? A special kind of protein, called an enzyme, is the answer. An enzyme serves as a biological catalyst, increasing the rate of a reaction, without being changed into a different molecule. An enzyme does not add energy to a reaction, instead, it speeds up a reaction by lowering the energy barrier. An enzyme is very selective. Its 3 dimensional shape allows it to act on only specific molecule, referred to as enzyme substrate. As the substrate binds to the enzyme's active site, they are held in a position that facilitates the reaction. This takes less activation energy then the uncatalyzed reaction. Products form and are released .The enzyme emerges as unchanged from the reaction. The cause of a specific fit between an enzyme and substrate is , each enzyme can catalyze only one kind of reaction involved in specific substrate for their special 3-D conformation . Thousands of different enzymes may require carrying out all of the cell's metabolic processes.