Why are enzymes considered biological catalysts?

Enzymes are termed biological catalysts primarily because they lower the activation energy required for biochemical reactions. This means that enzymes facilitate and speed up reactions by making it easier for molecules to interact and transform into products. By reducing the energy barrier necessary for a reaction to occur, enzymes enable these processes to happen efficiently at the conditions present in living organisms, such as moderate temperatures and physiological pH.

In addition, enzymes are highly specific to the reactions they catalyze and often work optimally within a narrow range of environmental conditions. Their ability to lower activation energy is a key characteristic that distinguishes them from non-biological catalysts, which may not be as specific or effective under similar conditions. This property of lowering activation energy is crucial for biological systems, where many reactions would occur too slowly without the presence of enzymes, making them integral to processes such as metabolism, DNA replication, and cellular signaling.