Is the term #"substrate"# different from #"reactant"#?

Question

Mateo Aguilar · Accepted Answer

Probably not, and you can treat the terms equivalently.

The material that the enzyme (or catalyst) acts on is referred to as the substrate in formal terms; it is simply another word for the reactant(s).

Henry Antrim · Answer

undefined Yes, the terms "substrate" and "reactant" refer to different concepts, primarily distinguished by the context in which they are used. A "reactant" is a general term used in chemistry to describe a substance that undergoes a chemical change during a chemical reaction. Reactants are present at the beginning of a chemical reaction and are transformed into products by the reaction.

On the other hand, "substrate" is a term often used in biochemistry and enzymology to refer specifically to the substance upon which an enzyme acts. While a substrate is a type of reactant in enzymatic reactions, the term emphasizes its role as the target of enzyme action, leading to a specific product or products.

In summary, while all substrates can be considered reactants in the context of enzymatic reactions, not all reactants are substrates, as the term substrate is specifically used to describe the reactants in enzyme-catalyzed reactions.