HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. In the mid- 1990s, researchers discovered an enzyme in HIV called protease. Once the enzyme's structure was known, researchers began looking for drugs that would fit into the active site and block it. If this strategy for stopping HIV infections were successful, it would be an example of what phenomenon?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This strategy for stopping HIV infections involves drugs that fit into the active site of the protease enzyme and block it, which is an example of competitive inhibition. Allosteric regulation and feedback inhibition involve the regulation of enzymes through the binding of molecules at sites other than the active site, while denaturation refers to the loss of an enzyme's shape and function due to changes in temperature or pH. Vaccination involves stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against a pathogen, and is not directly related to enzyme activity or inhibition.

HIV Is the Virus That Causes AIDS