Multiple Choice
Which of the following is often true of the active sites of enzymes?
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7. Energy and Metabolism
Enzymes
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Which of the following most directly controls the rate at which food is broken down to release energy in cells?
A
Vitamins
B
Minerals
C
Enzymes
D
Hormones
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of enzymes in cellular processes: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions, including those involved in breaking down food molecules to release energy. They lower the activation energy required for reactions, making them occur more efficiently.
Compare enzymes to other options: Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that support enzyme function and other cellular processes, but they do not directly control the rate of food breakdown. Hormones regulate various physiological processes, including metabolism, but they act indirectly by signaling cells to adjust enzyme activity.
Focus on the direct control mechanism: Enzymes are the molecules that directly interact with substrates (food molecules) to catalyze reactions such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, which are key steps in energy release.
Relate enzymes to energy release: Enzymes like amylase, lipase, and protease break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively, into smaller molecules that can be further processed to release energy in the form of ATP.
Conclude why enzymes are the correct answer: Since enzymes directly catalyze the reactions that break down food molecules, they are the most direct controllers of the rate at which energy is released in cells.
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