How might a change of one amino acid at a site, distant from the active site of an enzyme, alter an enzyme's substrate specificity?
A) by changing the enzyme's stability
B) by changing the enzyme's location in the cell
C) by changing the shape of an enzyme
D) by changing the enzyme's pH optimum
E) An amino acid change away from the active site cannot alter the enzyme's substrate specificity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Protein structure dictates protein function. A single amino acid change in a region distant from the active site can cause a significant change in the protein's overall shape, which can alter the enzyme's substrate specificity. This is particularly true if the amino acid change occurs in a region that is critical for maintaining the overall structure of the enzyme.

How Might a Change of One Amino Acid at a Site