Enzyme inhibitors

• What are enzyme inhibitors?

  Substances that reduce or stop enzyme activity
• How do reversible inhibitors affect enzyme activity?

  They temporarily reduce or stop enzyme activity
• What are the two types of reversible inhibitors?

  Competitive and non-competitive inhibitors
• How do competitive inhibitors function?

  They compete with substrate for the active site
• What is the effect of non-competitive inhibitors on enzyme activity?

  They alter the active site's shape, preventing binding
• How do reversible inhibitors affect the rate of reaction?

  They slow down or stop enzyme activity
• What happens when the concentration of an inhibitor increases?

  It reduces the rate of reaction
• How can competitive inhibition be countered?

  By increasing substrate concentration
• Why can't increasing substrate concentration help with non-competitive inhibitors?

  The active site shape remains altered
• What role do reversible inhibitors play in metabolic pathways?

  They act as regulators in metabolic pathways
• How is metabolic reaction control achieved?

  By using end-products as non-competitive inhibitors
• What is end-product inhibition?

  It slows down reactions by binding to enzymes
• What happens to the end-product in end-product inhibition?

  It can detach and allow enzyme reactivation
• What are non-reversible inhibitors?

  Inhibitors that form permanent covalent bonds with enzymes
• What is the consequence of non-reversible inhibition in living cells?

  It results in complete inactivation of the enzyme
• How can a cell respond to non-reversible inhibition?

  By producing more of the inhibited enzyme
• How does competitive inhibition affect the maximal rate of reaction?

  It does not affect the maximal rate of reaction
• How do non-competitive inhibitors affect both initial and maximal rates of reaction?

  They lower both initial and maximal rates
• What is the difference between reversible and non-reversible inhibitors?

  Reversible inhibitors temporarily affect enzymes; non-reversible permanently inactivate them
• What is the role of end-product inhibition in metabolic pathways?

  It prevents excessive product formation by regulating enzyme activity