Question

Write short notes on the following:
(a) Enzyme specificity (b) Enzyme inhibition

Answer 1

(a) Enzyme specificity- It the ability of an enzyme to bind with the specific substrate or catalyze a specific set of chemical reactions. It depends upon the active site orientation based on its atomic configuration. Bond breaking and forming reacting groups are in the active site of the enzyme. In this type, the enzyme is not only specific to the type of the bond but also the structure surrounding it.

(b) Enzyme inhibition- It is a molecule that binds the enzyme and suppresses its activity. They may cause a reduction in the rate of an enzyme catalysed the reaction. These can be specific or non-specific, reversible and irreversible, competitive or non-competitive. The binding of an inhibitor can stop a substrate from entering into an active site.