1.9 Enzyme inhibition

Question 1

What are the types of enzyme inhibitors

Answer 1

Competitive - bind to the active site of the enzyme

Non-competitive- bund to the enzyme at a position that isn’t the active site

Question 2

How does a competitive inhibitor work?

Answer 2

Competitive inhibitors have a molecular shape similar to that of the substrate this allows them to occupy the active site of the enzyme. They therefore can compete with the substrate for active sites.
If substrate conc. is increased the effect of the inhibitor is decreased.

It is not permanently blinded to the active site therefore a substrate can occupy the active site.

Question 3

How does a non-competitive inhibitor work

Answer 3

Non competitive inhibits can attach themselves to the enzyme at a binding site which is not the active site. Upon attaching to the enzyme the inhibitor alters the shape of the enzyme and thus it’s active site in such a way that substrate molecules can no longer occupy it and so the enzyme cannot function.

As the substrate and the inhibitor are not competing for the same site, an increase in substrate conc. does not decrease the effect of the inhibitor