Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions in the human body, playing an essential role in health and body function. These molecules are present in all cells and facilitate vital processes such as digestion, DNA replication, and detoxification, operating without being consumed in the process.
Most enzymes are proteins, although some RNA molecules also perform enzymatic functions. Enzymes work by reducing the activation energy required for chemical reactions. They require specific temperature and pH conditions to function optimally, and changes in these conditions can denature them and alter their activity. The human body contains thousands of enzymes, each specialized in specific functions.
In this whitepaper, we will review these catalytic proteins and their role in pathologies from the perspective of scientific research:
- How enzymes act on substrates: general functioning.
- The importance of enzymes in medical diagnosis.
- Use of enzymes as markers of liver damage.
- Enzymes and digestive problems.
- Metabolic lipidic disorders.
- Enzymatic disorders of the urea cycle.
- Enzymes as cancer biomarkers.
