What is the primary macromolecule that makes up enzymes?

Enzymes are primarily composed of proteins, which are made up of long chains of amino acids. The specific sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its shape and function, which is crucial for the catalytic activity of enzymes. Enzymes act as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy required for the reactions to occur.

While nucleic acids store genetic information and carbohydrates serve as energy sources and structural components, lipids mainly function as energy stores and components of cell membranes. None of these macromolecules can perform the specific catalytic activities characteristic of enzymes, which is why proteins are the category that encompasses enzymes specifically.