What are biological catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed called?

Biological catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed are known as enzymes. Enzymes are essential for facilitating various biochemical processes in living organisms, including digestion and metabolism. They work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, allowing reactions to proceed more quickly and efficiently. Each enzyme is specific to a particular substrate, which means it can only catalyze a specific reaction or set of reactions.

Other terms like catalysts refer more generally to substances that increase the speed of reactions, whether biological or chemical, but do not specifically pinpoint the biological aspect tied to enzymes. Hormones are signaling molecules that regulate physiological processes but do not catalyze chemical reactions. Reagents refer to substances used in chemical reactions but do not carry out the catalytic role that enzymes do. Thus, enzymes uniquely fit the description of biological catalysts in the context of biochemical reactions.