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Control of metabolic pathways by inhibition

Genes for some of the enzymes in a cell are expressed so that the enzymes are always present. Influencing their activity can control their rates of reaction.

Different chemicals can influence enzyme activity.

Inhibitors can be used to stop an enzyme from binding to its substrate. As a result, inhibitors can directly control the progress of a metabolic pathway.

There are three types of inhibition:

  • competitive inhibition
  • non-competitive inhibition
  • feedback inhibition
Diagram showing a substrate molecule biding with the active site of an enzyme molecule
Figure caption,
Reaction
Diagram showing an inhibitor molecule binding with the active site of an enzyme molecule
Figure caption,
Inhibition