Category: Life

Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions occurring in the human body. These biological “catalysts” can make a chemical reaction take place a million times faster than it would’ve under normal circumstances. They are essential to human life because of their pivotal role in critical bodily functions, such as metabolism and digestion. Role of enzymes in the human body Life, itself, depends on the presence of enzymes in the body. Let’s take a look at some of their primary functions: Digestion: Digestive enzymes help regulate the process of digestion by breaking down complex molecules into smaller ones. In other words, they turn the food we eat into energy so that the body can use it. DNA replication: DNA is present in every cell and needs to be replicated when each cell divides into two. Enzymes help regulate this process by unwinding DNA coils and copying all the information contained in them. Toxin breakdown: The liver uses various enzymes to get rid of the toxins present in the human body. How do enzymes work? The region where the chemical reaction components are attached and acted upon is the most active site in an enzyme. In some cases, one substrate… Read more “Metabolic enzymes: How do enzymes work”