Let me share with you a comparison between Enzyme and a Catalyst.
| Aspect | Enzymes | Catalysts |
| Definition | · Biological molecules mostly proteins that act as catalysts in living cells. | · Catalyst can be biological or inorganic that increases the rate of chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. |
| Specificity | · Highly specific | · Specific but they are not as specific as enzymes. |
| Substrates | · Require specific substrates for catalyzing reactions. | · Do not require specific substrates, but they can accelerate various reactions. |
| Regulation | · Activity can be regulated by various mechanisms, including feedback inhibition and allosteric regulation. | · Generally not regulated by cellular processes |
| Function in | · Function within living organisms, typically in cells or within specific cellular organelles. | · Various industrial processes · Chemical reactions outside organisms. |
| Specific Names | · Enzymes are named systematically according to the type of reaction they catalyze e.g. amylase
· DNA polymerase |
· Catalysts are typically identified by the reaction they accelerate e.g., hydrogen peroxide catalyst |
| Effect on activation energy | · Lower the activation energy required for reactions | · Lower activation energy required for reactions, but to a lesser extent compared to enzymes. |
| · Generally accelerates reaction rates but to a lesser extent compared to enzymes. | ||
| Speed of reaction | · Often accelerates reaction rates by several orders of magnitude. | |
| Enzyme-substrate complex formation | · Enzymes form temporary complexes with substrates during reactions. | · Catalysts do not typically form Specific complexes with substrates. |