Enzymes are primarily composed of which type of biomolecule?

Enzymes are primarily composed of proteins, which are polymers made up of amino acids. The specific sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its structure and function. Enzymes act as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in cells. They achieve this by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, allowing biological processes to proceed more efficiently.

The structure of enzymes typically includes a unique active site where substrate molecules can bind. This specificity is a direct result of the unique sequence and arrangement of the amino acids in the enzyme, highlighting the integral role proteins play in enzymatic function. Additionally, enzymes can require co-factors or co-enzymes, which may be non-protein molecules, but these do not alter the fundamental composition of the enzyme itself, which remains a protein.

While carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids are essential biomolecules in biological systems, they do not serve the role of enzymes. Carbohydrates primarily provide energy and structural support; nucleic acids are involved in genetic information storage and transfer; and lipids serve as structural components of cell membranes and energy storage. Thus, the composition of enzymes as proteins is crucial for their role in facilitating biochemical reactions.