Question

Conceptually, what is the difference between a competitive, uncompetitive and mixed inhibition? Which ones effect Vmax and KM, and why?

Answer 1

Enzyme inhibition

Difference between competitive, uncompetitive and mixed type of enzyme inhibition is, in competitive inhibition both inhibitor and the substrate compete with each other to bind to the enzyme, thereby raising the amount of substrate needed to reach Km value. In uncompetitive inhibition, the inhibitor bind to the enzyme and changes its binding efficiency to that of the substrate, therefore, both the Vmax and the Km to decrease due to lower activity of the enzyme for the substrate. Whereas, in mixed type of inhibition, the inhibitor acts as both competitive to substrate and also as a substrate to the enzyme.