Which part of the membrane can catalyze chemical reactions?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about which specific part of a membrane is responsible for catalyzing chemical reactions. This typically refers to membrane proteins that facilitate various biochemical processes.
Answer
Proteins (enzymes)
The part of the membrane that can catalyze chemical reactions is proteins, specifically enzymes.
Answer for screen readers
The part of the membrane that can catalyze chemical reactions is proteins, specifically enzymes.
More Information
Proteins in the membrane can act as enzymes, which are catalysts that speed up chemical reactions necessary for the cell’s functions. These proteins are capable of lowering the activation energy of reactions, facilitating processes like metabolism.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming lipids or carbohydrates catalyze reactions, but it is specifically proteins (enzymes) that serve this role.
Sources
- What part of the cell membrane can catalyze chemical reactions - Homework.Study.com - homework.study.com
- Which part of the membrane helps chemical reactions happen? - Homework.Study.com - homework.study.com
- Protein Function - Molecular Biology of the Cell - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov