Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the main role of enzymes in the body?
A
They store genetic information.
B
They provide structural support to cells.
C
They act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.
D
They transport oxygen in the blood.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Enzymes are specialized proteins that act as biological catalysts, meaning they speed up chemical reactions in the body without being consumed in the process.
To understand their role, recall that chemical reactions in the body often require activation energy to proceed. Enzymes lower this activation energy, making reactions occur more efficiently and at a faster rate.
Enzymes are highly specific to the reactions they catalyze. They bind to substrates (reactants) at their active site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex, which facilitates the conversion of substrates into products.
Enzymes do not store genetic information (this is the role of DNA and RNA), nor do they provide structural support (this is the role of structural proteins like collagen). They also do not transport oxygen (this is the role of hemoglobin).
The correct answer is: Enzymes act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions, which is essential for maintaining life processes such as metabolism, digestion, and cellular respiration.