Question

I had a questions regarding enzyme regulation: Is there one specific type of enzyme regulation that is more efficient, or is one method chosen based on the specific enzymes that are being used?

Answer 1

Answer: Understanding enzyme regulation has always been difficult even for scientists. But, there is a rule we must take look at, that it is not possible to crank up all the enzymes at the same time or in the same cell. Regulation of enzyme activity always depends on the need or condition inside the cell. So, speaking about one type of enzyme regulation is more efficient than others. Different cell types require a different type of enzyme for proper functioning, for example, a digestive organ will have cell functioning for digestion or breakdown of complex molecules into its simpler form and at the same time, a nerve cell will have a different function which is to be taken care by a different enzyme and to regulate these two types of enzyme there are two methods, competitive and non-competitive inhibition. This regulation of enzyme activity totally depends on the type of enzyme and it is always specific.

In a famous example of inhibition, there is a step in Glycolysis of feedback inhibition where in the first step of glycolysis Glucose to Glucose-6-phosphate catalysed by Hexokinase, Glucose-6-phosphate acts as an inhibitor for Hexokinase enzyme when the amount of Glucose-6-phosphate is high inside the cell. This type of inhibition to only this enzyme and only during this step/ process.