Enzymes are the complex organic compounds which are produced by living plants and animals.Enzymes are the chemicals catalysts that control all biochemical reactions in every living thing, from viruses to man. Breathing, digestion, heart action, formation of body tissues, movement of all muscles all these and many more depend on enzymes. So without enzymes these is no life.

Enzymes are protein molecules which act as catalysts to speed up organic reactions in living cells. They are non-living complex nitrogenous compounds produced by living organisms. More than 100,000 different types of enzymes have been identified most of which are colorless solids, soluble in water or dilute solutions, but some are blue, green or greenish brown. Some common enzymes and their specific functions are as follows

Amylase hydrolysis starch into glucose.

Maltase hydrolysis maltose into glucose.

Lactase hydrolysis lactose into glucose and galactose.

Invertase hydrolysis sucrose into glucose and fructose.

Pepsin hydrolysis proteins into amino acids.

Zymase converts glucose into ethanol.

Urease hydrolysis urea into ammonia.

Each enzyme is produced in a particular living cell to catalyze a reaction occurring in that cell.They are the globular proteins which can catalyze various biochemical reactions occurring in the living system. Thus, enzymes are the biological catalysts.

Important characteristics of enzyme catalysis:

The deficiency of enzymes in our body can cause few diseases. For example, diseases albinism is caused due to the deficiency of enzyme tyrosinase Phenylketone Urea is caused due to the deficiency of enzyme Phenyl alanine hydroxylase.