Question

Which of the following is an example of cooperativity?

A) the binding of an end product of a metabolic pathway to the first enzyme that acts in the pathway
B) one enzyme in a metabolic pathway passing its product to act as a substrate for the next enzyme in the pathway
C) a molecule binding at one unit of a tetramer, allowing faster binding at each of the other three
D) binding of an ATP molecule along with one of the substrate molecules in an active site

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C) a molecule binding at one unit of a tetramer, allowing faster binding at each of the other three

The phenomenon called cooperativity occurs when the binding of a substrate molecule to the first active site of an enzyme may in¬fluence substrate binding to a second active site.Binding of the second then influence binding of a third, and so on.

Cooperativity can be positive or negative:

• Positive- the first molecule facilitates binding of sub-sequent molecules

• Negative- binding of a subsequent molecule is reduced by the binding of the first one.