- The enzyme is made from protein that is folded into a very specific 3D shape
- Part of this 3D shape is a section of the enzyme called the active site
- The active site is the section of the enzyme that binds to the substrate (the reactant)
- When the enzyme binds to the substrate it is called the enzyme-substrate complex
The formation of the enzyme-substrate complex diagram
The enzyme-substrate complex forms when the substrate binds to the active site of the enzyme
- The product is made from the substrate(s) and is released
- After the product is released the enzyme is free to bind to a new substrate and repeat the reaction again
Diagram showing how enzymes work
Enzymes act as biological catalysts