Search Dictionary



Version history

  • Current: Feb 14, 2023

Enzyme

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy.

An enzyme is usually a protein, but RNA also can serve as an enzyme. Major characteristics of enzymes include:

  • Enzymes are not changed by the reaction.
  • Enzymes generally have high specificity and efficiency.
  • Enzymes often require coenzymes.

Enzymes lowers activation energy

Definitions in the literature

  • A biological catalyst, usually a protein, that speeds up the rate of specific biological reactions [1].
  • Organic molecule (protein or RNA) that speeds up a reaction without being changed by it [2].
  • a protein that serves as a biological catalyst [3].