Catalysts are immensely important to biochemistry and the proper functioning of biological systems. Our bodies manufacture their own catalytic environments by making proteins known as enzymes (see the section about Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency for an example of one crucial enzyme). This module discusses all the ways that the rate of reactions can be affected.
- Describe a catalyst in simple terms.
- Find an important biological enzyme through a little research (it’s fine to just look up “important biological enzymes” and pick one!)
- Describe why this enzyme is important
- Write out the reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme
- Describe the problems that could occur (or do occur) if the enzyme isn’t working in someone’s body