substrate reactions

Substrate reactions involve specific molecules called substrates interacting with enzymes, which are biological catalysts. The enzyme binds to the substrate at a designated site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This interaction lowers the energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur, enabling the substrate to be transformed into a product more efficiently. Once the reaction completes, the enzyme releases the product and remains unchanged, ready to catalyze additional reactions. This process is fundamental to many biological functions, such as digestion, energy production, and cellular regulation.