What is the structure of an enzyme primarily made of?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate chemical reactions in living organisms, and their primary structure is composed of amino acids. These amino acids link together in specific sequences to form polypeptide chains, which then fold into unique three-dimensional shapes. This folding is critical because the shape of an enzyme determines its activity and specificity, allowing it to bind to its substrate effectively.

Each enzyme has an active site that is specifically shaped to fit the substrate it acts upon, and this functionality is intrinsically tied to the order and composition of the amino acids in its structure. The diverse properties of the 20 different amino acids allow for a vast array of enzymatic functions, making them essential for various biochemical processes, including metabolism, DNA replication, and cellular signaling.