What type of molecules do simple enzymes consist of?

Simple enzymes are primarily composed of proteins. These proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids that fold into specific three-dimensional shapes, allowing them to perform their catalytic functions effectively. Enzymes act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process.

While there are complex enzymes that may include non-protein components, such as cofactors and coenzymes, simple enzymes lack these additional parts and consist entirely of protein. This characteristic is pivotal in understanding enzyme structure and function in biochemical processes.

The other options allude to components that do not apply to simple enzymes; for instance, carbohydrates or nucleic acids are not intrinsic parts of simple enzymes, and the inclusion of non-protein components contradicts the definition of simple enzymes as solely protein-based. Thus, the understanding of simple enzymes strictly applies to their composition as proteins.