Substrate Concentration and Enzyme Inhibition

The rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions in metabolic pathways is significantly influenced by substrate concentration and the presence of inhibitors.

Substrate Concentration Effects:

1. At low concentrations, reaction rate is low due to insufficient substrate molecules.
2. As concentration increases, reaction rate increases as more active sites are occupied.
3. At high concentrations, reaction rate plateaus as all active sites become saturated.

Example: In a graph of reaction rate vs. substrate concentration, the curve initially rises steeply and then levels off at higher concentrations.

Enzyme Inhibitors:

Inhibitors are substances that decrease the rate of enzyme-controlled reactions. There are three main types:

1. Competitive inhibitors
2. Non-competitive inhibitors
3. Feedback inhibitors

Definition: An inhibitor is a molecule that interferes with enzyme function, slowing down or stopping a metabolic reaction.

Competitive Inhibitors:

• Have a similar shape to the enzyme's substrate
• Bind to the active site, preventing substrate binding
• Their effects can be reversed by increasing substrate concentration

Non-Competitive Inhibitors:

• Bind to an allosteric site on the enzyme
• Change the shape of the active site, preventing substrate binding
• Their effects cannot be reversed by increasing substrate concentration

Feedback Inhibition:

• Occurs when an end product in the metabolic pathway reaches a critical concentration
• The end product inhibits an earlier enzyme in the pathway, blocking further synthesis

Highlight: Understanding enzyme inhibition is crucial for comprehending control of metabolic pathways in higher human biology and the regulation of cellular processes.

Metabolic Pathways Overview

Metabolic pathways are integrated and controlled sequences of enzyme-catalyzed reactions within a cell. These pathways are crucial for maintaining cellular functions and can be either anabolic or catabolic in nature.

Definition: A metabolic pathway is a series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell, catalyzed by enzymes, to maintain life.

The structure of metabolic pathways includes:

1. Reversible steps: Some reactions can proceed in both directions.
2. Irreversible steps: Reactions that only occur in one direction.
3. Alternative routes: Different pathways to achieve the same end product.

Example: In a typical pathway, Enzyme A catalyzes the conversion of a substrate to Intermediate 1, which can then be converted to Intermediate 2 by Enzyme B in a reversible step.

Anabolic pathways are processes that build up larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring energy.

Example: Protein synthesis from amino acids is an anabolic process.

Catabolic pathways, on the other hand, break down large molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process.

Highlight: Understanding the 4 metabolic pathways and 5 metabolic processes in GCSE biology is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of cellular metabolism.