Question

1. Describe the link between understanding enzyme mechanism and drug design and development.

2. How does regulation of 1 enzyme in a metabolic pathway modulate the flux through the entire pathway?

Answer 1

1. Enzymes are biological catalysts which speed up biological reactions. Enzymes contain active sites which are specific slots in which only specific reactants can attach. The structure of such reactants are complementary to the structure of active sites which make the enzymes specific to reactants. Once a reactant attaches itself to the active site of the enzyme, the reaction speeds up and once the reaction is complete, the structure of the reactant molecule changes and it detaches from the enzyme's active site.

Now, drugs are designed to inhibit this enzyme action. This is done by making drugs that would fit into the active site of enzyme thereby preventing reactant molecules from attaching. Thus, the structure of active sites is a necessary knowledge to design drugs.