What is the general name given to biological catalysts?

Just like a key fits into a lock, enzymes are remarkable biological molecules that speed up the chemical reactions in our bodies. They are often referred to as the 'workhorses' of the cellular world. Each enzyme is designed to catalyze, or speed up, a specific biochemical reaction by lowering the energy barrier required for the reaction to proceed. This mechanism is called 'lowering the activation energy'.

Without enzymes, most chemical reactions in biological systems would proceed so slowly that life as we know it could not exist. The human body has thousands of different enzymes, each with a unique shape and function. They are involved in a myriad of processes, from digestion — breaking down food into its usable forms — to DNA replication, where enzymes assist in creating copies of the genetic information when cells divide.

Enzymes themselves remain unchanged after the reaction. This means they can be used repeatedly to catalyze successive reactions, which is a key feature of their biological utility and efficiency.

Biochemical reactions are the chemical processes that take place within living organisms. These reactions are the foundation of life, allowing cells to grow, reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Proteins, including enzymes, are crucial for facilitating these reactions.

Examples of biochemical reactions include cellular respiration, which allows cells to convert glucose into usable energy (ATP), and photosynthesis, through which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. At the molecular level, these reactions involve the making and breaking of chemical bonds, the transfer of electrons, or the rearrangement of atoms.

Enzymes play a vital role by ensuring these reactions occur under the mild conditions of temperature and pressure within living organisms. The specificity of enzymes also ensures that biochemical reactions are controlled and well-regulated, preventing unwanted side reactions that could be harmful to the cell or organism.

Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the body. They are made up of building blocks known as amino acids, linked together in long chains. There are 20 different types of amino acids that can be combined to make a protein. The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its unique 3-dimensional structure and its specific function.

Other than serving as enzymes, proteins have a plethora of roles: they provide structure to cells, transport molecules, send and receive signals, and defend the body against harmful agents. Hemoglobin, for example, is a protein that transports oxygen in the blood. Antibodies, another type of protein, help the body defend against infection.

Each protein's shape is integral to its function, and multiple proteins can work together to facilitate complex cellular operations. Given their diverse functionalities, proteins are often described as the 'building blocks of life'.