What is the main function of enzymes in metabolic reactions?
A) To be consumed during the process
B) To be transformed into substrates
C) To increase the reaction temperature
D) To speed up reactions without being consumed
E) To provide chemical energy for the reactions
IMAT 2026 · Question 24
Q24 - The role of enzymes
Pinned
The correct answer is D) To speed up reactions without being consumed.
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They lower the activation energy, so a reaction happens much faster, and they come out of the reaction unchanged, ready to be used again. They do not change the overall energy (ΔG) or the equilibrium of the reaction.
A) Incorrect: Enzymes are regenerated at the end of the reaction, not consumed.
B) Incorrect: Enzymes act on substrates. They bind them briefly (enzyme–substrate complex) but do not turn into them.
C) Incorrect: Enzymes work at body temperature. They do not heat the reaction, and high temperatures denature them.
D) Correct: They speed up reactions and are not consumed.
E) Incorrect: Enzymes do not supply energy. In the cell, energy usually comes from ATP.
Replies 0
No other replies yet.
Log in to reply.