Enzymes Proteins- Enzymes belong to the macromolecule group of proteins and can be described as a specialized type of protein. Enzymes are considered the catalysts of life (catalysts=agents that speed up chemical reactions) - Enzymes are named by what they are acting upon and replacing the ending with ?ase? Ex= cellulose to cellulase Enzymes assist in the process of metabolism= the many chemical reactions that occur in organisms. Many chemical reactions would not occur without enzymes because the molecules in cells would simply not house enough energy/contain enough heat, to begin a reaction and carry it out quick enough. An enzymes job is to lower the activation energy needed in a chemical process and to finish by completing it.