NEETBotanyBiomolecules (B)
What is a competitive inhibitor?
Options
- AAn inhibitor that increases the activity of an enzyme
- BAn inhibitor that decreases the activity of an enzyme
- CAn inhibitor that does not affect the activity of an enzyme
- DNone
Correct answer
B. An inhibitor that decreases the activity of an enzyme
Step-by-step solution
When the inhibitor closely resembles the substrate in its molecular structure and inhibits the activity of the enzyme, it is known as competitive inhibitor. Due to its close structural similarity with the substrate, the inhibitor competes with the substrate for the substrate-binding site of the enzyme. Consequently, the substrate cannot bind and as a result, the enzyme action declines, e.g., inhibition of succinic dehydrogenase by malonate which closely resembles the substrate succinate in structure. Such competiti