The use and study of enzymes is a key part of biochemistry and cellular biology. Enzymes act as a regulatory catalyst for the majority of biochemical reactions that facilitate cell function, including all aspects of cellular metabolism. They do so by lowering the energy barrier necessary for a chemical reaction to occur. Enzymes are present throughout the cell, some sequestered within organelles such as the mitochondria, or free in the cytoplasm. Upon reaction with a suitable substrate, enzymes change shape to form a new complex. This change, when used during experiments, can provide a signal to researchers that a reaction has occurred, as well as potentially improving the specificity of the reaction itself. Charting even small variations in naturally occurring enzymes, or employing new technologies to purify or adapt them for use in research applications, is a valuable tool for multiple industries.
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