enzyme

A macromolecule that functions as a biocatalyst by increasing the reaction rate, frequently containing or requiring one or more metal ions. In general, an enzyme catalyzes only one reaction type (reaction specificity) and operates on only a narrow range of substrates (substrate specificity). Substrate molecules are attacked at the same site (regiospecificity) and only one or preferentially one of the enantiomers of chiral substrate or of racemic mixtures is attacked (enantiospecificity).