[Unit 1.9] | Inhibitors Of Enzymes

Question 1

What is a competitive inhibitor?

Answer 1

An inhibitor shaped similarly to a substrate which competes for the active site and blocks it if successful.

Question 2

What is a non-competitive inhibitor?

Answer 2

It binds to a site other than the active site and causes the enzyme’s tertiary shape to warp so it no longer complements substrates.

Question 3

What happens to the effect of competitive inhibition when the substrate concentration is increased?

Answer 3

The effect of the inhibition is diluted as the substrates are able to form more ES complexes before competitive inhibitors block the active sites.

Question 4

What happens to the effect of non-competitive inhibition when the substrate concentration is increased?

Answer 4

Nothing happens as the inhibitor does not have to compete for the active site and therefore can prevent enzyme action without needing to wait for an empty active site.