Textbook Question
Oxaloacetate is an inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase.
a. Would you expect oxaloacetate to be a competitive or a noncompetitive inhibitor? Why?
Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 16, Problem 50c
In humans, the antibiotic amoxicillin (a type of penicillin) is used to treat certain bacterial infections.
c. Is amoxicillin a reversible or irreversible inhibitor?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of enzyme inhibitors: Enzyme inhibitors are molecules that bind to enzymes and decrease their activity. They can be classified as reversible or irreversible inhibitors based on how they interact with the enzyme.
Define reversible inhibitors: Reversible inhibitors bind to enzymes non-covalently (e.g., through hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, or hydrophobic interactions) and can dissociate from the enzyme, allowing the enzyme to regain its activity.
Define irreversible inhibitors: Irreversible inhibitors form covalent bonds with the enzyme, permanently inactivating it. This type of inhibition cannot be reversed, as the enzyme's structure is altered permanently.
Relate the concept to amoxicillin: Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin that inhibits bacterial enzymes called transpeptidases, which are essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Amoxicillin forms a covalent bond with the active site of the enzyme, rendering it inactive.
Conclude based on the mechanism: Since amoxicillin forms a covalent bond with the enzyme and permanently inactivates it, it is classified as an irreversible inhibitor.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Enzyme Inhibition
Enzyme inhibition refers to the process by which a molecule (inhibitor) decreases or halts the activity of an enzyme. Inhibitors can be classified as reversible or irreversible, depending on whether their effects can be undone. Understanding this concept is crucial for determining how drugs like amoxicillin interact with bacterial enzymes.
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Enzyme Inhibition Concept 1
Reversible Inhibition
Reversible inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to an enzyme non-covalently, allowing the enzyme to regain its activity once the inhibitor is removed. This type of inhibition can be competitive, non-competitive, or uncompetitive, and is important for understanding how certain antibiotics function without permanently altering the target enzyme.
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Irreversible Inhibition
Irreversible inhibition involves the permanent binding of an inhibitor to an enzyme, often through covalent bonds, leading to a permanent loss of enzyme activity. This concept is significant in pharmacology, as it helps explain the long-lasting effects of some drugs and their potential side effects on human enzymes.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Methanol and ethanol are oxidized by alcohol dehydrogenase. In methanol poisoning, ethanol is given intravenously to prevent the formation of formaldehyde that has toxic effects.
b. Would ethanol compete for the active site or bind to a different site?
Textbook Question
In humans, the antibiotic amoxicillin (a type of penicillin) is used to treat certain bacterial infections.
a. Does the antibiotic inhibit enzymes in humans?
Textbook Question
Ethylene glycol (HO—CH2—CH2—OH) is a major component of antifreeze. If ingested, it is first converted to HOOC—CHO (oxoethanoic acid) and then to HOOC—COOH (oxalic acid), which is toxic.
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a. What class of enzyme catalyzes the reactions described?
Textbook Question
Ethylene glycol (HO—CH2—CH2—OH) is a major component of antifreeze. If ingested, it is first converted to HOOC—CHO (oxoethanoic acid) and then to HOOC—COOH (oxalic acid), which is toxic.
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b. The treatment for the ingestion of ethylene glycol is an intravenous solution of ethanol. How might this help prevent toxic levels of oxalic acid in the body?
Textbook Question
Adults who are lactose intolerant cannot break down the disaccharide in milk products. To help digest dairy food, a product known as Lactaid can be added to milk and the milk then refrigerated for 24 hours.
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a. What enzyme is present in Lactaid, and what is the major class of this enzyme?