National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What are enzymes primarily responsible for in the body?

1. Facilitating chemical reactions

2. Transporting nutrients

3. Regulating temperature

4. Providing energy

The correct answer is: Facilitating chemical reactions

Enzymes play a critical role in the biological systems of the body by facilitating chemical reactions. They act as catalysts, which means they speed up the rate of reactions without being consumed in the process. This is essential for various functions, including digestion, metabolism, and DNA replication. By lowering the activation energy required for reactions to occur, enzymes allow the biochemical processes necessary for life to proceed at a pace that is compatible with survival. Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or type of reaction, allowing for a high degree of regulation and efficiency within metabolic pathways. The other options reflect different physiological processes but do not encompass the primary role of enzymes. While nutrients are indeed transported in the body, this is the function of transport proteins. Temperature regulation is primarily controlled by mechanisms such as sweating and shivering rather than enzymes, and while some biochemical reactions involving enzymes might release energy, enzymes themselves do not provide energy directly. Their essential function is to facilitate the reactions through which energy is ultimately derived.