In: Biology
How does the enzyme-substrate complex actually work to lower the activation energy? I understand that that when the enzyme and substrate combine to form a complex, this is known as the transition state and in this state, the complex is unstable however it lowers the activation energy required. I just don't understand what about this complex lowers the activation energy
Enzymes accelerate reactions by decreasing ΔG, the activation energy. The combination of substrate and enzyme creates a new reaction pathway whose transition-state energy is considerably much lower than that of the reaction in the absence of enzyme. The lower activation energy means that more molecules have the required energy to reach the transition state. Decreasing the activation barrier is very much analogous to lowering the height of a high-jump bar; more athletes will be able to clear the bar. The essence of catalysis is specific binding of the transition state.