A protein consists of amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body, and must be included in the diet. A protein containing all of the essential amino acids is called a complete protein. An incomplete protein lacks one or more of the essential amino acids.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay messages from one cell to the next. Enzymes are protein catalysts that speed up biological reactions. Minerals are inorganic compounds and are not present in the body in large amounts, with the exception of hydroxyapatite crystal found in bones. Electrolytes are ionic salts in the blood, tissue fluids, and cells, such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine. 

Receptor proteins in a signal transduction pathways can be found both within the plasma membrane or cytosol; as a result, protein Y could potentially function as a receptor. The electron transport chain occurs in the mitochondria, and relies on the movement of electrons; the proteins that “move” these electrons, and subsequently pump protons (creating a gradient), are located in the inner membrane. An antiporter functions in a membrane as well due to its importance in creating and maintaining a concentration gradient. In a similar fashion, nuclear trafficking refers to the regulation or movement of molecules in and out of the nuclear membrane. Last, DNA replication occurs in the nucleus and does not involve a membrane of any sort; therefore, the membrane dwelling protein Y cannot function in this process.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that increase the rate of a chemical reaction. This is accomplished by lowering the activation energy for the reaction. Enzymes increase the rate of a reaction, but do NOT increase the amount of products formed in the reaction. They simply cause the products to be formed faster.

A catalyst speeds up the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy, which is caused by the high energy transition state. Enzymes are a class of catalyst specific to biological processes, accelerating these processes by lowering activation energy and transition state energy. Catalysts and enzymes may help reactions move faster, but they do not affect the final equilibrium amounts of reactants and products.

Pepsin is an enzyme in the stomach that digests proteins. Because it is active in the stomach, which is highly acidic, pepsin best functions at a low pH between 2 and 2.5.

Pepsinogen is secreted by chief cells and converted into active pepsin after catalyzation by hydrochloric acid. The acid is secreted by parietal cells in response to gastrin secretion by G cells. After the stomach contents enter the duodenum of the small intestine, the acid is neutralized by bicarbonate secretions from the pancreas. This prevents the acid from damaging the walls of the small intestine.

Catalysts are molecules that are capable of increasing reaction speed. Enzymes are a particular subset of catalysts; enzymes are proteins that can aid in biological reactions and are crucial to many metabolic processes that occur in cells. Enzymes lower the activation energy of a given reaction, allowing the reaction to proceed faster. The active site of an enzyme is the region of the enzyme that can bind a substrate, when a substrate collides into the enzyme molecule. Joining of an enzyme and substrate results in a chemical reaction whereby the substrates are converted into products. The active site of an enzyme is specific to the substrate's shape, like a lock-and-key mechanism.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that bind to specific substrates. Enzyme activity is tightly regulated by activators and/or inhibitors. Enzymes will change shape as a result in an induced fit when bound to their substrates, activators, and/or inhibitors. Since enzymes are proteins, environmental changes will affect their activity. For example, high temperatures will denature the protein, rendering the enzyme inactive. Isozymes are a group of enzymes that do not have the exact same amino acid sequence, yet they catalyze the same reactions. Enzymes need cofactors, such as prosthetic groups and/or coenzymes in order to function properly. The precursors to coenzymes are vitamins in the diet.

Temperature and pH can affect enzyme activity because they may alter the shape and effectiveness of the enzyme through protein denaturation. Likewise, the availability of reactants and substrates controls the amount of product that the enzyme can catalyze during the reaction. If they are present in low concentrations, then they will inhibit the enzyme’s activity.

The stomach is an acidic environment; therefore, one would expect pepsin to be most active at an acidic pH. The answer choice “2” is the most acidic pH. It is also the pH that is generally found in the stomach. Although a pH of 6 is slightly acidic, it is not the pH found in the stomach.

A catalyst is responsible for a decrease in activation energy of a reaction. This allows an enzyme to use less energy to manipulate its substrate into a transition state.