How Does a Cell Work?
Cells work by having enzymes carry out chemical reactions. The enzymes in a cell are responsible for everything from breaking down glucose for energy to creating new enzymes and making it possible for cells to reproduce.
There are countless cells that reside within the human body. Inside of each of those cells are thousands of enzymes at work. The enzymes do all of the work inside of the cell through chemical reactions. Every type of enzyme has a specific task in the cell for it to perform.
The protease enzymes break down protein into small chains known as peptides, which are then broken down into individual amino acids. Amylases are enzymes that break down starch chains into small sugar molecules.
Enzymes are also responsible for producing energy within human cells. The way that enzymes produce energy is by controlling the citric acid cycle and glycolysis. These two processes make it possible for cells to transform glucose and oxygen into adenosine triphosphate, which is commonly referred to as ATP. In turn, ATP then fuels the enzymes and powers them by performing difficult chemical reactions.
The way a cell works is through the constant actions, through chemical reactions, of various types of enzymes.
