What is a Key Characteristic of Enzyme Behavior

Question

What is a key characteristic of enzyme behavior?  
A) Enzyme shape is stable during catalysis.
B) The active site of an enzyme orients its substrate molecules, thereby promoting interaction of their reactive parts.
C) All enzymes have an active site where coenzymes are temporarily bound.
D) Each enzyme can catalyze multiple types of reactions.
E) Enzyme activity is not affected by pH and temperature.

Accepted Answer

The active site of an enzyme is responsible for the specificity of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. It orients the substrates in a way that promotes their interaction and the formation of a transition state, which lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. This is a key characteristic of enzyme behavior. While enzymes do have specific shapes, they can undergo conformational changes during catalysis. Enzymes can also have coenzyme binding sites, but not all enzymes require coenzymes. Enzymes are typically highly specific to a particular reaction or set of reactions, and their activity is affected by factors such as pH and temperature.