3.3

Question 1

How could an inhibitor affect enzyme action?

Answer 1

Inhibitors are substances that directly or indirectly interfere with the active site and so reduce enzyme activity

Question 2

What are competitive inhibitors?

Answer 2

Competitive inhibitors have a shape similar to the substrate, which allows them to occupy the active site of the enzyme – the inhibitor will compete with the substrate for the active site

Question 3

What are non-competitive inhibitors?

Answer 3

Non-competitive inhibitors attach themselves to the enzyme at a site which is NOT the active site.
This then alters the shape of the enzymes active site so that the substrate molecule can no longer fit, and so the enzyme can no longer work.

Question 4

If the substrate concentration is increased what will happen to the effect of the competitive inhibitor?

Answer 4

If the substrate concentration is increased, the effect of the inhibitor is decreased.

Question 5

If the substrate concentration increases what will happen to the effect of the non-competitive inhibitor?

Answer 5

An increase in the substrate concentrate will NOT decrease the effect of the non-competitive inhibitor.