How do enzymes function in biochemical reactions?

Enzymes play a crucial role in facilitating biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed for those reactions to occur. Activation energy is the minimum energy required for reactants to transform into products. By lowering this threshold, enzymes enable the reaction to proceed more quickly and efficiently at physiological temperatures, which is particularly important in biological systems.

The structure of enzymes allows them to bind to specific substrates, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This interaction stabilizes the transition state and reduces the energy barrier, allowing the reaction to occur at a much faster rate than it would without the enzyme. This property is vital for maintaining life's biochemical processes, which need to happen rapidly and under mild conditions.

The other choices provide insights into common misconceptions about enzyme function. For instance, while enzymes facilitate reactions, they do not increase the temperature, act as inhibitors, or change into different substances; they remain unchanged after the reaction and can be reused multiple times.