Question

Human xanthine oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and can further catalyze the oxidation of xanthine to uric acid. For the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout, several medications are used to inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase and reduce the production of uric acid. You are a biochemist and just discovered a chemical that can inhibit the activity of the human xanthine oxidase. When analyzing its mode of inhibition, you found that the enzyme inhibitor complex requires 450 J.mol' to dissociate and that it displays kinetics somehow similar to noncompetitive inhibition. You sent your inhibitor to the ministry of health for approval as a medication for gout. Based on the data provided, are they going to authorize it as a medication or not? Explain?

Answer 1

No it won't get approval from govt.

The main reason is that it binds very strongly to enzyme with dissociation energy is 450 joule /mol so it's like long term association with enzyme and block enzyme xanthine oxidase activity. This leads to permanently blockage of xanthine formation and accumulation of nucleotide start in our body which will leads to increase physilogical pH that leads to severe health issue.

We required such kind of drug which shows it's effect for limited times furation so that enzyme activity can be controlled in limited way.

Thanks..!