Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body. How do they work?

The process of chemical reactions is the conversion of one chemical into another. These reactions occur all over the body and use the basic building blocks of the body, called atoms. Atoms consist of a nucleus made of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and chemical bonds linking them together. Because chemical bonds can be broken and made up, each chemical reaction has a product and a reactant. An enzyme acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction between the reactant and the product.

What does an enzyme do in the body?

There are hundreds of different enzymes in your body, and they’re found in every part of it! Your digestive system has over 30 different enzymes, for example, to break down food. And your brain has dozens of different enzymes to convert food into energy.

How does an enzyme work in the body?

An enzyme is a catalyst, a protein that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed itself. This means that the enzyme does not break down into simpler substances. It allows a reaction to proceed much faster than it could without the enzyme by providing a specific reaction site.

What is the purpose of enzymes in the body?

In order to work properly, the body needs a balanced supply of different enzymes which help to digest food, neutralise toxins, regulate hormone levels and metabolise fat. Some of the most important enzymes in the body are produced in the digestive tract. Without them, the digestive system would have too little energy to work properly and this could lead to poor absorption of nutrients, digestive problems, weight gain and disease.

How do enzymes work in the body?

There are thousands of different enzymes in the body, and each one plays a role in a particular chemical reaction. Some enzymes speed up the rate of reaction, others slow it down. For example, the enzyme creatine kinase speeds up the production of energy in the cell by transferring a phosphate group to ADP. Without creatine kinase, the cell would struggle to produce energy. On the other hand, ADP-ribosyltransferase helps to stop the growth of cancer cells, so it also