How do enzymes control metabolic pathways?

Question 1

What is a metabolic pathway

Answer 1

• A series of enzyme controlled reactions

Question 2

What is a multi enzyme pathway

Answer 2

• The product of one enzyme reactions becomes the substrate for the next enzyme reaction and then the product of that enzyme reaction becomes the substrate for the next enzyme reaction and it repeats several times
• Hence multi enzyme pathway

Question 3

What is a typical site where a multi enzyme pathway might be found

Answer 3

• The inner membrane of mitochondria

Question 4

What often controls the multi enzyme pathway

Answer 4

The multi enzyme pathway is often controlled by the end product

Question 5

How does the end product control the multi enzyme pathway

Answer 5

• The process by which the end product controls the multi enzyme pathway is called end product inhibition
• The end product blocks a reaction early in the sequence of the multi enzyme pathway

Question 6

What happens if there is too much end product produced

Answer 6

End product inhibition is more profound and less end product is created

Question 7

What happens if there is too little end product created

Answer 7

• End product inhibition would be less and more end product would be created

Question 8

What is the self regulating mechanism called

Answer 8

• Negative feedback loop
• The more End product there is the less the end product created
• The less end product there is the less end product there is created

Question 9

What is the name given to inhibitors which can change the shape of the active site and the rate of reaction which occurs there

Answer 9

• Allosteric inhibitors which have more than one shape
  
  • i.e. One shape activates and the other deactivates the enzyme

Question 10

What is the end product

Answer 10

The end product acts as a molecular switch which can turn on or turn off the reaction depending upon the concentration of the end product,