Enzyme inhibition

• What is the term for the molecule that an enzyme acts on?

  Substrate
• What is the role of the active site in an enzyme?

  It binds to the substrate for reaction
• What is formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate?

  Enzyme-substrate complex
• What is activation energy?

  Energy required to start a reaction
• What type of bonds contribute to an enzyme's tertiary structure?

  Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bridges
• How do enzyme inhibitors affect metabolic reactions?

  They can slow down or stop reactions
• What are the types of enzyme inhibitors?

  • Competitive
  • Non-competitive
  • Allosteric
  • Reversible
  • Irreversible
• What do competitive inhibitors do?

  Bind to the enzyme's active site
• How do non-competitive inhibitors function?

  Bind to sites other than the active site
• What happens to the active site when a non-competitive inhibitor binds?

  It alters the shape of the active site
• What is the effect of increasing substrate concentration on competitive inhibitors?

  Reduces the effect of the inhibitor
• What is the outcome of using a competitive inhibitor?

  Same amount of product, slower rate
• What is the effect of non-competitive inhibitors on product formation?

  Less product is formed
• What is an example of a non-competitive inhibitor?

  Cyanide
• What is the allosteric site on an enzyme?

  Site where non-competitive inhibitors bind
• How does kinetic energy affect enzyme-inhibitor interactions?

  Molecules move and collide more frequently
• What happens if the amount of inhibitor increases?

  Slows the reaction rate further
• Why is enzyme inhibition important in metabolic processes?

  • Controls metabolic pathways
  • Prevents overproduction of products
  • Regulates enzyme activity
• What is the optimum pH for enzyme activity?

  pH 7 (neutral)
• How does urea concentration affect enzyme activity?

  Increases enzyme collisions up to a point
• What happens to the rate of reaction at high urea concentrations?

  Rate levels off as active sites are occupied
• How does NBPT affect enzyme activity?

  It reduces the rate of reaction
• What is the relationship between NBPT and substrate shape?

  NBPT has a similar shape to the substrate
• How does high substrate concentration affect NBPT's effectiveness?

  Substrate competes more successfully for active sites