Which process do enzymes primarily accelerate?

Enzymes primarily accelerate the process of metabolism. Metabolism encompasses all the biochemical reactions that occur within a living organism, including both catabolic reactions that break down molecules to produce energy and anabolic reactions that build complex molecules from simpler ones. Enzymes act as catalysts in these reactions, significantly increasing the rate at which they occur without being consumed in the process.

By lowering the activation energy required for metabolic reactions, enzymes enable these processes to happen at a scale and speed necessary to sustain life. For example, in glycolysis, enzymes facilitate the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP, which cells use for energy. This essential role in metabolism is a fundamental aspect of how enzymes contribute to maintaining the physiological functions of organisms.

While cell division, hormone regulation, and substance transport can involve enzymes, these processes are not primarily defined by enzyme action in the same way metabolism is. Hence, metabolism is the most accurate description of the main process that enzymes are known to accelerate.