The synthetic chemistry group at Proteins-R-Us has created a molecule designed t

Question

The synthetic chemistry group at Proteins-R-Us has created a molecule designed to act as a competitive inhibitor of AChE. To test this compound, you compare the velocity of the reaction with and without the inhibitor, at different substrate concentrations. In the graph shown below, the filled symbols represent the velocity in the absence of inhibitor, and the open symbols represent the velocity in the presence of 50 mu M inhibitor From your data, do you think that the compound is, as intended, a competitive inhibitor of AChE? Briefly explain why or why not. (There is additional room on the following page.) Do you think that this inhibitor binds to the free enzyme, the enzyme- substrate complex or both? Again, briefly explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

(a) The inhibitor is not a competitive inhibitor but a noncompetitive inhibitor,

Non competitive inhibitor decreases maximal velocity of the reaction but does not affect the affinity of the enzyme with the substrate.

Whereas the competitive inhibitor decreases the affinity of the enzyme with the substrate. but does not alter the Vmax

(b)Inhibitor could bind to either free enzyme or Enzyme-Substrate complex. The non-competitive inhibitor do not resemble substrate hence does not compete with the substrate for the active site.

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