Explain why enzymes are important in the body.

The reaction that takes place inside a cell is known as biochemical reaction where one molecule is converted to another molecule. Enzymes are organic compounds (generally proteins) that take part in the biochemical reactions and plays the role of catalyst in the reaction.

The enzymes are naturally synthesized from amino acids in the cells that are used to speed up the biochemical reactions. There are different types of enzymes, where each enzyme is synthetized to perform a certain role or used in carrying or specific reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to use a specific enzyme for a specific purpose.

Depending on the purpose or action the enzyme performs, enzymes can be differentiated into 7 different types.

1. Enzymes that are used for redox reaction (oxidation-reduction reactions) are known as the oxidoreductases.
2. Enzymes that moves a functional group of one molecule to another is known as transferases.
3. Enzymes that are used for hydrolysis reactions are known hydrolases.
4. Enzymes that result in lysis (splitting) of bonds are known as the lyases. These enzymes are not used for hydrolysis reactions or oxidation reaction, which also involve splitting of bonds.
5. Similarly, enzymes which are used to join two molecules or covalent bonds are known are the ligases.
6.  Enzymes that are used in isomerization reactions are classified under isomerases.
7. Enzymes that are used to transfer the molecules across the cell membrane are known as translocases.

In our body, the cells perform different kinds of actions such as digestion of various compounds and molecules, respiration, synthesis of proteins and other biochemical molecules, storage of energy in the form of certain chemical compounds, etc., that requires various biochemical reactions to be carried out. In all these reactions, enzymes play a major role in increasing the rate of reaction and carrying out the reaction.