What is the function of enzymes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body without being consumed in the process. Their primary function is to lower the activation energy required for reactions to occur, thereby increasing the rate at which those reactions take place. This characteristic makes enzymes essential for various biological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and cellular function. They facilitate reactions by binding to substrates and forming a transition state, which subsequently leads to the formation of products.

The other options describe functions associated with different biological molecules. For example, the storage of hereditary information is attributed to nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, while structural support is typically provided by proteins like collagen or polysaccharides like cellulose. Transporting oxygen in the blood is specifically the function of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hence, the role of enzymes as catalysts for biochemical reactions distinguishes them from other biological molecules with different functions.