Which type of protein acts as a catalyst in chemical reactions?

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Multiple Choice

Which type of protein acts as a catalyst in chemical reactions?

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in cells by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to proceed. They achieve this by providing an active site where the substrates bind and by stabilizing the transition state, often using an induced-fit interaction to orient reactants properly. Enzymes are highly specific for their substrates and are not consumed in the reaction, so they can be reused. Receptors bind signaling molecules to trigger cellular responses rather than accelerate chemistry. Hormones regulate physiological processes as signaling molecules, not catalysts. Antibodies bind targets to defend the organism, and while some antibodies can have catalytic activity in rare cases, the typical role of antibodies is not catalysis. Thus, the protein type that acts as a catalyst is enzymes.

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in cells by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to proceed. They achieve this by providing an active site where the substrates bind and by stabilizing the transition state, often using an induced-fit interaction to orient reactants properly. Enzymes are highly specific for their substrates and are not consumed in the reaction, so they can be reused. Receptors bind signaling molecules to trigger cellular responses rather than accelerate chemistry. Hormones regulate physiological processes as signaling molecules, not catalysts. Antibodies bind targets to defend the organism, and while some antibodies can have catalytic activity in rare cases, the typical role of antibodies is not catalysis. Thus, the protein type that acts as a catalyst is enzymes.

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