What happens to an enzyme after it catalyzes a reaction?

The correct answer demonstrates a fundamental principle of enzymatic action. After an enzyme catalyzes a reaction, it remains unchanged in structure and function. This means that the enzyme can continue to catalyze additional reactions without undergoing any permanent alteration or depletion during the process.

Enzymes function by lowering the activation energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur, which facilitates the conversion of substrates into products. Once the reaction is completed, the enzyme releases the product(s) and is free to bind with new substrate molecules, making it highly efficient and vital for biological processes.

In biological systems, this ability to remain unchanged allows enzymes to catalyze numerous reactions over time, contributing significantly to metabolic pathways and overall cellular function.