What are enzymes and why are they important?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate and accelerate chemical reactions in living organisms. They are crucial because they lower the activation energy required for reactions to occur, allowing cellular processes to happen efficiently and at lower temperatures than would otherwise be possible. Enzymes are highly specific; each type of enzyme typically catalyzes only one type of reaction or acts on a specific substrate. This specificity is vital for maintaining the complex biochemical pathways necessary for life.

The role of enzymes is fundamental in processes such as digestion, metabolism, DNA replication, and many others. Without enzymes, reactions that are essential for life would proceed too slowly to sustain biological functions. Thus, their importance lies not only in speeding up reactions but also in regulating metabolic pathways, which is crucial for homeostasis in living organisms.