NEETBotanyBiomolecules (B)
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Malonate is often used in the control of pathogenic bacteria. Reason (R): Malonate acts as a competitive inhibitor by closely resembling succinate in its molecular structure and competing for the substrate binding site of succinic dehydrogenase. In the light of the above statements, choose the most
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is correct but (R) is not correct
- D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Correct answer
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is correct. According to NCERT, competitive inhibitors are often used in the control of bacterial pathogens. Reason (R) is also correct and provides the exact biochemical mechanism for the Assertion. Malonate closely resembles the substrate succinate in its molecular structure. It competes with succinate for the active site (substrate binding site) of the enzyme succinic dehydrogenase, thereby inhibiting the enzyme's activity. This inhibition disrupts the metabolism of the pathogenic bacteria, control