NEETBotanyBiomolecules (B)
Malonate is known to inhibit the activity of the enzyme succinic dehydrogenase. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the mechanism of this inhibition?
Options
- AMalonate binds to a site other than the active site, altering the enzyme's conformation.
- BMalonate forms a covalent bond with the active site, causing irreversible inhibition.
- CMalonate structurally resembles the substrate succinate and competes for the substrate binding site of the enz
- DMalonate closely resembles the enzyme in structure and competes for the substrate.
Correct answer
C. Malonate structurally resembles the substrate succinate and competes for the substrate binding site of the enz
Step-by-step solution
The inhibition of succinic dehydrogenase by malonate is a classic example of competitive inhibition. In competitive inhibition, the inhibitor closely resembles the substrate in its molecular structure. Malonate structurally resembles the actual substrate, succinate. Due to this structural similarity, malonate competes with succinate for the substrate binding site (active site) of the enzyme, thereby blocking the enzyme's activity. It does not bind to an allosteric site (which would be non-competitive inhibition), n