A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, without being a reactant, is called a catalyst. The catalysts for biochemical reactions that happen in living organisms are called enzymes. Enzymes are usually proteins, though some ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules act as enzymes too. Enzyme reactions typically occur in aqueous solutions (e.g. cytoplasm, interstitial fluid, etc.)
ENZYME CATALYISIS To catalyze a reaction, an enzyme will grab on (bind) to one or more reactant molecules. These molecules are the enzyme's substrates. The part of the enzyme where the substrate binds is called the active site, as it's where the catalytic “action” happens. .
Environmental effects on enzyme function The active site is a cavity to which the substrate can bind with high specifity. The shape and chemical properties of the active site depend on the tertiary structure of the enzyme Like all proteins, enzyme structure can be modified by external factors.
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