An enzyme is found to be inhibited by a molecule that has a very different shape and size than either of the enzyme's two substrates.Moreover, the inhibitory molecule can bind to the enzyme in the absence of the substrates, and when it does bind, the molecule causes the enzyme to dissociate from a four-part quaternary structure to a two-part structure.What type of inhibitor is the molecule?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The inhibitory molecule is able to bind to the enzyme in the absence of substrates, which rules out competitive inhibition. It also causes a change in the quaternary structure of the enzyme, which suggests allosteric inhibition. Moreover, the fact that the inhibiting molecule has a very different shape and size than the substrates further supports the notion that it is an allosteric inhibitor.

An Enzyme Is Found to Be Inhibited by a Molecule