Enzymes are biological catalysts which influence the speed of biochemical reactions OR They

are biological catalyst that speed up the rate of reaction without being involved
All enzymes are proteins but all proteins are not enzymes
The chemicals on which the enzyme acts are called substrate
Enzyme converts substrates into products
Enzymes are specific, i.e., each enzyme has its own substrate
Enzymes get damaged at high temperature
Enzymes lower the activation energy of the reaction
Enzymes isolated from thermophilic organism (live under high temperatures) are thermostable
Enzymes form tertiary structure (3D) with some crevices (pockets) called ‘active site’ into
which the substrate fits

Nucleic acids (RNA) that behave like enzymes are known as Ribozymes
Carbonic anhydrase is the fastest enzyme. It accelerates the following reaction 10 million times

In the absence of the enzyme, only 200 molecules of 𝐻2 𝐶𝑂3 are formed in an hour. In presence of
carbonic anhydrase, about 600,000 molecules are formed per second!

In a multistep chemical reaction (metabolic pathway), each step is catalysed by different enzymes

Example: In glycolysis {Glucose (𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6 ) → 2 pyruvic acid 𝐶3 𝐻4 𝑂3 )} 10 difference enzymes take
part

In a chemical reaction, there will be breaking of bonds.

𝐵𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 + 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 → 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝐻2 𝑂

(inorganic chemical reaction)

𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐ℎ + 𝐻2 𝑂 → Glucose
(organic chemical reaction)

Rate of reaction = amount of product formed / unit time