They do this by binding to another substance known as a substrate. The “lock and key” model was first proposed in 1894. In this model, an enzyme’s active site is a specific shape ...

The lock and key model explains how enzymes work: The enzyme is like a "lock". The substrate (the molecule it reacts with) is like a "key" that fits into the lock. Each enzyme is specific and acts ...

The substrate goes through a chemical reaction and changes into a new molecule called the product — sort of like when a key goes into a lock and the lock opens. Since most reactions in your body’s ...

They bind these substrates at complementary areas on their surfaces, providing a snug fit that many scientists compare to a lock and key ... when substrate binding occurs, enzymes undergo a ...

The active site of an enzyme has a unique three-dimensional structure that allows it to bind to a specific substrate, much like a lock and key. This specificity ensures that enzymes catalyze only the ...