What is meant by feedback inhibition?a)Inhibition of enzyme activity a...
Inhibition of an enzyme controlling an early stage of a series of biochemical reactions by the end product when it reaches a critical concentration.
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What is meant by feedback inhibition?a)Inhibition of enzyme activity a...
Feedback inhibition refers to the regulation of a metabolic pathway by the end-product of that pathway. It is a negative feedback mechanism that helps maintain homeostasis and prevent excessive production of certain molecules within a cell or organism.
Explanation:
- Feedback inhibition is a regulatory mechanism that occurs when the end-product of a metabolic pathway binds to and inhibits an enzyme involved in an earlier step of the pathway.
- The end-product of a metabolic pathway is typically the final molecule produced by that pathway. For example, in the biosynthesis of amino acids, the end-product is usually the amino acid itself.
- The enzyme that is inhibited by the end-product is typically one of the first enzymes in the pathway, often referred to as the rate-limiting enzyme. This enzyme catalyzes a key step in the pathway and determines the overall rate of the pathway.
- The inhibition of the rate-limiting enzyme by the end-product is achieved through allosteric regulation. The end-product binds to a specific site on the enzyme, known as the allosteric site, which is distinct from the active site where the substrate binds. This binding causes a conformational change in the enzyme, leading to a decrease in its activity.
- The binding of the end-product to the allosteric site is reversible, meaning that when the concentration of the end-product decreases, the inhibition is relieved, and the enzyme can resume its activity.
- The purpose of feedback inhibition is to prevent the overproduction of certain molecules. When the concentration of the end-product is high, it signals that there is already enough of that molecule present in the cell or organism. By inhibiting the rate-limiting enzyme, feedback inhibition reduces the production of the end-product, helping to maintain a balance in the metabolic pathway.
- Feedback inhibition is a key regulatory mechanism in many biological processes, including the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. It allows cells and organisms to efficiently allocate resources and avoid wasting energy and materials on the production of excess molecules.