What is the primary function of enzymes in biological systems?

Enzymes serve as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process. Their primary function is to lower the activation energy required for reactions, enabling them to occur more rapidly and efficiently under physiological conditions. This catalytic role is crucial for various biochemical processes, including digestion, metabolism, and DNA replication.

Enzymes are highly specific for their substrates, meaning each enzyme facilitates a particular reaction or set of reactions. This specificity is linked to the unique three-dimensional structure of the enzyme, which allows it to interact with the substrate in a way that promotes the formation of products.

In contrast, other options describe functions that are not primary roles of enzymes. For instance, providing structural support typically refers to proteins like collagen, while storing genetic information is associated with nucleic acids. Additionally, transporting substances across membranes is primarily the role of membrane proteins and transporters, not enzymes. Thus, the catalytic function of enzymes is what primarily makes them essential in biological systems.