Question

When you arrive at work in the morning, you are unable to park your car in your assigned parking spot because someone else has placed a giant cement block in front of your spot. In regards to enzymes, this statement would be an example of:

A. Noncompetitive inhibition
B. Enzyme activation
C. Competitive inhibition
D. Decreased substrate concentration

Answer 1

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds reversibly to the enzyme's active site, competing with the substrate for binding. In the scenario described, the cement block blocking the parking spot represents competitive inhibition.

Step-by-step explanation:

Competitive inhibition is when an inhibitor reversibly binds to an enzyme at the enzyme active site, competing with the substrate for binding. This type of inhibitor must be structurally similar to the substrate.

In the given scenario, the placement of a cement block prevents you from parking in your assigned spot, representing competitive inhibition because the block (inhibitor) is in competition with your car (substrate) for the parking spot (active site).