Question

To which chemical group do all enzymes belong?

Answer 1

Enzymes are also known as biological catalysts. These molecules increase the rate of biological reactions without taking part in the reaction. The main function of these molecules are in the acceleration of various biochemical reactions taking place in living organisms.

Complete answer:
All enzymes belong to a chemical group of molecules known as Proteins. These are molecules that have a functional unit known as Amino acids. Amino acids have two functional groups in each of them, an amino $–NH_2$ and an acid $–COOH$ group. A number of amino acids are linked to each other to form a protein molecule and the bond between adjacent amino acids is known as a peptide bond. The chain of amino acids is known as a polypeptide chain.

Enzymes are functional when the amino acids are linked to form a three-dimensional structure. Enzyme mediated catalysis is highly specific. When this structure gets distorted in presence of high temperature the enzymes become non-functional or denatured. The major functions of enzymes are in DNA replication and repair and also in the process of transcription. The molecules on which enzymes act are known as substrates and the molecules formed as a result are known as products.

Note: The structure of proteins can be distinguished as four types. Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quinary. The primary structure is composed of simple amino acid chains. Secondary structure is of two types: alpha-helix and beta-pleated, where peptide chains are folded which are stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Further folding of secondary structure results in tertiary structure forming a protein complex.