Enzyme Inhibitors Flashcards
What are enzyme inhibitors?
Substances that bind to the enzyme to reduce enzyme activity.
Enzyme inhibitors can impede the function of enzymes, affecting metabolic processes.
What are the two types of enzyme inhibitors?
- Competitive Inhibitors
- Non-Competitive Inhibitors
Each type interacts with the enzyme differently.
Where do competitive inhibitors bind?
The active site.
Competitive inhibitors compete with the substrate for binding at this site.
What is the shape similarity of competitive inhibitors?
They have a similar shape to the substrate.
This allows them to bind to the active site, blocking substrate access.
What is the effect of competitive inhibitors on enzyme-substrate complexes?
Fewer enzyme-substrate complexes form.
This results in a reduced rate of reaction.
How can the effects of a competitive inhibitor be mitigated?
By adding more substrate.
Increasing substrate concentration can outcompete the inhibitor.
Where do non-competitive inhibitors bind?
The allosteric site.
Binding at this site alters the enzyme’s activity without competing with the substrate.
What happens to the active site when a non-competitive inhibitor binds?
The tertiary structure of the active site changes.
This change affects the enzyme’s ability to catalyze reactions.
What is the effect of non-competitive inhibitors on enzyme-substrate complexes?
Fewer or no enzyme-substrate complexes form.
This leads to a lower rate of reaction.
What is the effect of adding a non-competitive inhibitor?
Reduces the rate of reaction and reduces the maximum rate.
Unlike competitive inhibitors, increasing substrate concentration does not alleviate this effect.
What is the allosteric site?
The site on an enzyme where a non-substrate molecule can bind, changing the enzyme’s shape.
This binding can enhance or inhibit enzyme activity.
What role do activator molecules play in enzyme activity?
They bind to the allosteric site, changing the active site’s shape to be more substrate-like.
This increases the formation of enzyme-substrate complexes.
