Question

Could somebody explain Competitive and noncompetitive inhibiters to me? i am at a GCSE higher science level, so bear that in mind when you answer!

Answer 1

There are three general flavors of enzyme inhibition.

1. In competitive inhibition, some molecule other than the substrate binds to the enzyme at its active site. Open mouth, insert foot. This prevents the actual substrate from binding to the enzyme and hence prevents the reaction from going.

2. Noncompetitive inhibitors bind the enzyme away from its active site. They do not prevent the substrate from binding at the active site, but they do prevent the enzyme from catalyzing the reaction.

3. Uncompetitive inhibitors bind only to the enzyme-substrate complex and, when bound, prevent the enzyme from catalyzing the reaction.

Helpful?

Answer 2

Yes, very! Thankyou!
One thing, could you perhaps rephrase the word substrate?

Answer 3

the natural enviroment in which an organism lives

Answer 4

Thankyou!

Answer 5

Substrate an ecological context could mean the environment in which an organism lives.

In context of enzymes and molecular biology, substrates are the molecules, generally small molecules, on which the enzyme acts. They are things which are modified during the reaction. Examples would be sugars or intermediates in metabolic pathways, things like that.