Inhibition

Question 1

What are inhibitors?

Answer 1

Molecules that prevent enzymes from carrying out their normal function or slow them down.

Question 2

How does competitive inhibition work?

Answer 2

A competitive inhibitor has a similar shape to the substrate molecule and it fits into the active site temporarily, blocking the actual substrate from binding with the active site. This slows down the rate of reaction as the enzyme cannot do its function. The effects could be reduced by adding more substrate molecules so it is less likely that an inhibitor will bind with the active site. Does not affect Vmaxx

Question 3

How does non competitive inhibition work?

Answer 3

Inhibitor binds to the enzyme on a location other than the active site- allosteric site
Binding causes the tertiary structure of the enzyme to change- shape of active site changes and it is no longer complementary to the substrate
Increasing concentration of enzyme/ substrate will not affect this

Question 4

What is end product inhibition?

Answer 4

When the product of a reaction acts as an inhibitor to an early stage enzyme that is involved in producing it. This is to regulate metabolic pathways- negative feedback mechanism so excess products are not made. Example of non competitive inhibition