Pennsylvania Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What is the primary function of enzymes in biological systems?

1. Storage of energy

2. Structural support

3. Catalyzing chemical reactions

4. Regulating body temperature

The correct answer is: Catalyzing chemical reactions

Enzymes serve as biological catalysts that significantly speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. They lower the activation energy required for reactions to occur, allowing processes such as digestion, metabolism, and DNA replication to happen efficiently and at the necessary rates for life to sustain itself. Without enzymes, many biochemical reactions would occur too slowly to support life. The correct answer highlights the vital role enzymes play in facilitating and regulating various biochemical pathways, ensuring that organisms can carry out essential functions smoothly. Their specificity also means that enzymes only catalyze particular reactions, further underscoring their importance in metabolic processes. Storage of energy, structural support, and regulating body temperature, while important functions in biological systems, do not pertain to the role enzymes serve. Energy storage typically involves molecules like carbohydrates and lipids, structural support is provided by proteins such as collagen, and body temperature regulation is managed through homeostatic processes that involve different physiological mechanisms.