Question

Certain enzymes have multiple substrates that are also competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. How can this be possible?

Answer 1

Ans:

Certain enzymes have multiple substrates that are also competitive inhibitors of the enzyme:

- Competitive inhibitor may bind to an enzyme and block the binding of the substrate by attaching to the active site.

- Competitive inhibitor is a molecule similar to the substrate but unable to be acted on by the enzyme competes with the substrate for the active site.

- Because of the presence of the inhibitor, fewer active sites are available to act on the substrate.

- But since the enzyme overall structure is unaffected by the inhibitor, it is still able to catalyze the reaction on substrate molecules that do bind to an active site.

- Inhibitor and substrate bind to the same site.