Question

describe how an enzyme may be controlled by feedback inhibition

Answer 1

Feedback inhibition refers to the process where the end product of a reaction acts on and inhibits the enzyme that catalyzed the reaction. It is a regulatory mechanism used by many cells to prevent the overproduction of a particular reaction product.

Enzymes that are regulated by feedback inhibition have more than one active binding site. One binding site is for the initial reactant that activates the enzyme to catalyze the reaction. A second binding site is for the end product of the reaction that the enzyme catalyzed. This end product binds to the active site of the enzyme causing a conformational change such that the enzyme can no longer catalyze the reaction.

An example of feedback inhibition is cholesterol synthesis in the human body. It is important for the enzyme that synthesizes cholesterol to be inhibited after a certain amount of production of cholesterol because too much of the product can lead to a higher risk of heart disease. Hence, feedback inhibition works in protecting the body from conditions resulting from overproduction of a particular reaction product.