What is the function of enzymes in cells?
Enzymes help carry out chemical actions and protect the cell. For example, in phagocytosis, the cell ingests large, solid particles such as food or bacteria. A small part of the plasma membrane surrounds the particle to be ingested, forming a small vacuole, like a tiny plastic sandwich bag, around it. The vacuole then pinches off from the plasma membrane and floats around in the cytoplasm. Then, lysosomes fuse with the vesicle containing the bacteria. The lysosomes pour their powerful digestive enzymes on the bacteria, destroying them. Enzymes also help carry out cell signaling. First, a cell sends a signal using signaling molecules such as hormones. Second, target cells, the cells that can respond to the particular signal, must receive the signal. This process is called reception. In many cases the signal molecules bind to receptors, specific molecules on the surface of the target cells that receive chemical messages. In the third process, the receptor relays information into the cell
