Question

What types of molecular interactions occur between the active site and the substrate?

Answer 1

Weak, non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonds, and ionic bonds.

The enzyme binds to its substrate at the enzyme active site, it is a region on the surface of the enzyme. The shape of the enzyme and the shape of the substrate are complementory to eachother, so that the shape of the enzyme fits that of its substrate precisely. When the substare enters the enzyme active site, it forms weak bonds with the enzymes. The substrate held in the active site by weak, non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonds, and ionic bonds. This weak interactions allows to takes up the active site its most effective shape to hold the substrate in place.