Enzymes Overview

Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze (i.e. increase the rates of) chemical reactions. Enzymes serve a wide variety of functions inside living organisms. An important function of enzymes is in the digestive systems of animals. Enzymes such as amylases and proteases break down large molecules (starch or proteins, respectively) into smaller ones, so they can be absorbed by the intestines. Starch molecules, for example, are too large to be absorbed from the intestine, but enzymes hydrolyse the starch chains into smaller molecules such as maltose and eventually glucose, which can then be absorbed.

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