Question

Which statement is NOT true about transition state?

a. It has higher free energy than the substrate

b. It fits enzyme active site better (with higher affinity) than the substrate

c. It helps stabilize tertiary structure of an enzyme

d. It exists for a very short time during the reaction

Answer 1

Option C-  It helps stabilize tertiary structure of an enzyme

A transition state is a very short-lived configuration of atoms at maximum energy during a chemical reaction.It has partial bonds, with a short lifetime.Hence cannot be isolated.

Every chemical reactions should go through this transition state inorder to form a product from the substrate . It is the state that corresponds to the highest energy state which occur along the reaction . It has more free energy than the substrate or product. Hence it is least stable state.

Also,Enzymes have higher affinity for transition states more than substrates and products,because it is there ,where conformational changes occur which allows a reaction to happen .