Enzyme

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Ribbon diagram of an enzyme called TIM.

Enzymes are biological catalysts which cause reactions to happen faster without being used up themselves. They do this by taking the chemicals apart into smaller molecules. Humans, animals and even plants naturally have enzymes inside them, where they help break down food into simpler things that the living thing's cells can use. They can break down fats, carbohydrates and other proteins. Enzymes are biological catalysts, which accelerates the speed of chemical reactions in the body. Enzymes are mostly found in digestive juices e.g. amylase is found in saliva. Amylase breaks down starch molecules into smaller maltose molecules which later get broken down into glucose molecules, even smaller than maltose. Also the break down of protiens into smaller amino acids can be gone, there are many industrial uses for enzymes such as people who are lactose (a sugar found in milk) intolerant can buy special milk which has the enzyme Lactase in it to break the sugar down so people don't have any discomfort.

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