What happens after a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme?

When a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme, it forms an enzyme-substrate complex. This interaction facilitates a series of chemical reactions that lead to the transformation of the substrate into a product. The active site of the enzyme is specifically shaped to fit the substrate, ensuring that the enzyme catalyzes the reaction efficiently.

Once the substrate is bound, the enzyme may undergo conformational changes that promote the breaking of bonds in the substrate and the formation of new bonds, resulting in the formation of the product. After the reaction, the product is released from the active site, allowing the enzyme to be available for another substrate molecule to bind. This process highlights the role of enzymes as catalysts, as they are not consumed in the reaction and can be reused multiple times to facilitate subsequent reactions.

In comparison, the other options do not accurately represent the fundamental role of enzymes in catalysis. For example, the elimination of the substrate, destruction of the enzyme, or the enzyme becoming inactive do not occur as a direct result of substrate binding under normal enzymatic function. Instead, the correct process following substrate binding is the formation of a product.