Question

What is irreversible enzyme inhibition? Give an example.

Answer 1

Enzyme inhibition:

Substances that decrease the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction are called enzyme inhibitors.

Irreversible enzyme inhibition:

The inhibitor binds to the enzyme very tightly and does not dissociate from it.

Example:

1. Penicillin is an antibiotic that acts as an inhibitor by binding to the enzyme transpeptidase, which is responsible for the formation of bacterial cell walls.
2. Penicillin binds to the enzyme and hinders cell wall formation, killing the bacteria.