Question

What is the allosteric inhibitor? Explain with an example.

Answer 1

Allosteric inhibitor:

1. A molecule that combines with the enzyme at an allosteric site is known as an allosteric inhibitor.
2. The allosteric site is not a similar location to the active site.
3. On combining with the inhibitor, the 3-dimensional shape of the enzyme changes.
4. Allosteric inhibition is a kind of non-competitive inhibition.

Example of allosteric inhibitor:

1. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is an example of an allosteric inhibitor.
2. The enzyme taking part in glycolysis is phosphofructokinase. It transforms ADP (adenine diphosphate) into ATP.
3. When the concentration of ATP is too much in the system, then ATP functions as an allosteric inhibitor.
4. ATP combines with phosphofructokinase and slows down the transformation of ADP. In this manner, ATP is inhibiting the unwanted generation of itself.