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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Noncompetitive Inhibition
When inhibition takes place at a site that is not the active site, this is called __________ inhibition.
allosteric
substrate
trans-competitive
competitive
None of these
allosteric
An allosteric (meaning "other site") inhibition will involve binding of a molecule to a site other than the active site. Competitive inhibition involves the binding of an inhibitor molecule to the active site of an enzyme. Both forms of inhibition decrease the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
Example Question #2 : Noncompetitive Inhibition
There are at least four types of glucose transporter in the body. GLUT1 and GLUT3 are located in most tissues including the brain and the red blood cells. These glucose transporters rapidly take up glucose from the blood but have the lowest value. GLUT2 is commonly found in the liver and the pancreas. GLUT2 has a lower affinity for glucose but has the highest value. GLUT4 is common in skeletal tissues and in adipose tissues. This transporter is normally not active for uptake unless stimulated by insulin or during exercise.
Suppose there is a molecule that is able to lower the of the enzyme. What type of regulation would this molecule exhibit?
Noncompetitive inhibition
Uncompetitive stimulation
Competitive inhibition
Cooperative inhibition
Cooperative stimulation
Noncompetitive inhibition
Molecules that are able to bind to an enzyme and prevent it from reaching are noncompetitive inhibitors. Take carbon monoxide for example. The molecule binds to the hemoglobin but stays attached to it. Oxygen is not able to break the covalent bond between the carbon monoxide and the heme group and is therefore a noncompetitive. With carbon monoxide permanently attached to the heme, the hemoglobin cannot reach full saturation of oxygen and therefore is lowered.
Example Question #2 : Noncompetitive Inhibition
A molecule binds to the allosteric site of an enzyme. What can you conclude about this molecule?
I. The molecule cannot be a competitive inhibitor
II. The molecule can increase the activity of the enzyme
III. The molecule will decrease the affinity between enzyme and substrate
I and II
I only
I and III
III only
I and II
Allosteric sites on an enzyme bind both enhancers and inhibitors. Since the question only states that it binds to allosteric site, the molecule could be an inhibitor or an enhancer of the enzyme. Recall that inhibitors inhibit the activity of the enzyme whereas enhancers increase the activity of the enzyme.
Noncompetitive inhibitors and/or activators bind to the allosteric site. Competitive inhibitors, on the other hand, bind to the active site; therefore, this molecule cannot be a competitive inhibitor. Competitive inhibitors decrease the affinity between enzyme and substrate whereas noncompetitive inhibitors do not alter the affinity. Since we already determined it cannot be a competitive inhibitor, this molecule cannot decrease the affinity.
Example Question #2 : Noncompetitive Inhibition
Which of the following is true regarding noncompetitive inhibition?
More that one of these are true
Substrate can never bind to the enzyme in the presence of a noncompetitive inhibitor
Noncompetitive inhibition decreases the maximum efficacy of the enzymes
Noncompetitive inhibition decreases the affinity of the enzyme to the substrate
Noncompetitive inhibition decreases the maximum efficacy of the enzymes
Noncompetitive inhibition is characterized by a decrease in the maximum velocity (or efficacy) of an enzyme. Noncompetitive inhibitors bind irreversibly to the enzyme and prevent the substrate-enzyme activity. This decreases the efficacy of the enzyme. Unlike competitive inhibition, noncompetitive inhibition cannot be overcome by increasing the concentration of substrates because of the irreversible interaction between inhibitor and enzyme.
Noncompetitive inhibition does not alter the Michaelis-Menten constant, . This means that the affinity between enzyme and substrate is not altered in noncompetitive inhibition. Noncompetitive inhibitors bind to allosteric sites on the enzyme and prevent the substrate-enzyme interaction by altering the active site. Sometimes, noncompetitive inhibitors allow for substrate-enzyme interaction but inactivate the activity of the enzyme; therefore, noncompetitive inhibitors allow for substrate binding sometimes, but they always prevent the enzyme activity and the enzymatic reaction.
Example Question #3 : Noncompetitive Inhibition
Upon analysis, it is determined that the interaction between an inhibitor and an enzyme involves the formation of bonds between nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in adjacent molecules. Which of the following is true regarding this molecule?
It decreases the affinity between the substrate and enzyme
More than one of these
It binds to the allosteric site of the enzyme
Its effects can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration
More than one of these
The question states that the bond between nitrogen and hydrogen atoms occur between adjacent molecules; therefore, this is an intermolecular bond. Recall that hydrogen bonds are intermolecular bonds that occur between hydrogen atoms and either nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine atoms. This means that the intermolecular bond involved in this question is a hydrogen bond. Hydrogen bonds (like other intermolecular bonds) are reversible and can be broken by applying some energy. Since the bond between the inhibitor and the enzyme is reversible, the inhibitor must be a competitive inhibitor. Noncompetitive inhibitors, on the other hand, bind irreversibly (via covalent bonds) to the allosteric site on the enzyme.
Competitive inhibitors can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration. This occurs because the reversible, weak bonds between the inhibitor and enzyme can be broken when there is excess substrate present (substrate competes with the competitive inhibitors for the enzyme). Competitive inhibitors also increase the Michaelis-Menton constant, . Increasing decreases affinity between substrate and enzyme.
Example Question #11 : Enzyme Kinetics And Inhibition
If an enzymatic reaction is interrupted by the presence of a non-competitive inhibitor, which of the following best describes how the reaction kinetics will be effected?
decreases but increases
Both and decrease
Only will be increased
Only will decrease
Only will be decreased
Only will be decreased
Non-competitive inhibitors work by binding the enzyme without hindering the substrate's access to the active site. Therefore, the affinity of the enzyme to its substrate is not impacted , however it does negatively impact the enzyme's ability to form the final product. Therefore, the maximum velocity of the reaction is decreased.
Example Question #1 : Uncompetitive Inhibition
An uncompetitive inhibitor binds to which of the following?
The active site of the enzyme at the same time as the substrate
An allosteric site on the enzyme only when the substrate has not yet bound to the active site
An allosteric site on the enzyme, only when the substrate is already bound to the active site
An allosteric site on the enzyme, regardless of whether or not the substrate is already bound to the active site
The active site of the enzyme before the substrate has a chance to bind
An allosteric site on the enzyme, only when the substrate is already bound to the active site
Uncompetitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to an allosteric site of a enzyme, but only when the substrate is already bound to the active site. In other words, an uncompetitive inhibitor can only bind to the enzyme-substrate complex.
Example Question #2 : Uncompetitive Inhibition
Which of the following changes occurs when an uncompetitive inhibitor binds to the enzyme-substrate complex?
decreases
increases
remains unchanged
remains unchanged
increases
decreases
Uncompetitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to an allosteric site on the enzyme, but only when it is an enzyme-substrate complex. Because the inhibitor binds to the enzyme-substrate complex and then changes the enzyme's conformation, it makes it incredibly difficult for the substrate to become unbound from the enzyme. Thus, the apparent affinity of the substrate for the enzyme is dramatically increased. A decrease in represents an increase in affinity. still decreases when an uncompetitive inhibitor binds.
Example Question #2 : Uncompetitive Inhibition
Which of the following is true about noncompetitive inhibition?
Vmax stays the same, however Km increases
The inhibitor binds independently of substrate binding however km does not change
The inhibitor competes with the substrate to bind to the active site, and drops the Vmax
The inhibitor binds to the same site as the substrate, dropping the Km
The inhibitor binds to a separate site from the substrate and enhances enzyme activity
The inhibitor binds independently of substrate binding however km does not change
With uncompetitive inhibitors, the inhibitor binds to a site separate from the binding site of the substrate. This can occur even while the substrate is bound to the enzyme, blocking the process and reduce the catalysis of the enzyme.
This will result in the reduction of Vmax because the enzymes ability for catalysis is being reduced by the binding of inhibitor to the enzyme-substrate complex. Km does not change because the substrate and the uncompetitive inhibitor bind to different sites.
Example Question #3 : Uncompetitive Inhibition
Which of the following is true of uncompetitive inhibitors of enzymes?
They decrease the apparent KM and increase the apparent VM on a Lineweaver-Burke plot.
They bind to both the enzyme-substrate complex and the free enzyme.
They only affect enzymes that act on multiple substrates.
They lower the concentration of free enzyme available to bind to substrate.
There effect can be countered by adding more substrate.
They only affect enzymes that act on multiple substrates.
The correct answer is that uncompetitive inhibitors of enzymes only affect enzymes that act on multiple substrates. Uncompetitive inhibitors bind to the enzyme-substrate complex only, not to the free enzyme. They distort the active site to prevent the enzyme from being catalytically active without actually blocking the binding of the substrate. This cannot occur with an enzyme that only acts on a single substrate at a time. Adding more substrate and lowering the amount of free enzyme available both apply to competitive inhibitors, which bind to free enzymes and block the substrate-binding site of the enzyme. Uncompetitive inhibitors do decrease the apparent KM on a Lineweaver-Burke plot, but they also lower the apparent VM.