What do you call substances that can speed up biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy?

Substances that can speed up biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy are known as catalysts. Catalysts function by providing an alternative pathway for a reaction, which requires less energy for the reaction to occur. This allows the reaction to proceed more quickly, without being consumed in the process.

In biochemistry, enzymes are a specific type of catalyst that facilitates various biochemical processes necessary for life. They play crucial roles in metabolic pathways, enabling reactions that are essential for cellular function to occur at a rate that supports life. Catalysts do not alter the overall equilibrium of the reaction; they simply help to reach that equilibrium more rapidly.

Understanding the role of catalysts is important in many areas, such as drug development, industrial processes, and metabolic engineering, where controlling the rate of biochemical reactions can have significant implications.