Why is the free energy of the transition state central to any discussion of enzyme-catalyzed reactions? The Importance of Free Energy of Transition State in Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

In enzyme-catalyzed reactions, the importance of free energy of transition state

Because it drives the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, the free energy of the transition states is crucial to discussion. The energy needed for reactants to change into products is called the free-energy of the transition state. This is the difference in energy between reactants’ free energy and products’ free energy. The enzyme lowers the free energy required for the transition state to allow the reaction to take place more rapidly and with higher efficiency in enzyme-catalyzed processes (Chen & Kim, 2018). This is possible because the enzyme creates a favorable environment for the reaction. The environment could be a complementary binding pocket to the substrate that stabilizes the transition state or a cofactor to promote the reaction (Yin et. al., 2016). The enzyme’s ability to reduce can be increased by providing an environment that is more favorable. Cont…