Which class of organic compounds includes enzymes?

Enzymes belong to the class of organic compounds known as proteins. Proteins are large, complex molecules composed of long chains of amino acids. The specific sequence and arrangement of these amino acids determine the protein's structure and function. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy required for those reactions to proceed. This catalytic function is crucial for various metabolic processes.

Proteins also play numerous other roles in biological systems, including structural components (like collagen), transport (like hemoglobin), and signaling (like hormones). The unique three-dimensional shape of an enzyme, which is determined by its amino acid sequence, is essential for its activity and interaction with substrates. This relationship between structure and function is a key concept in biology, particularly in understanding how enzymes work in biochemical reactions.