Question

What kind of inhibitor binds very tightly to an enzyme often forming a covalent bond with an amino acid in the active site?

1) irreversible
2) reversible
3) uncompetitive
4) reversible and uncompetitive
5) None of these are correct.

Answer 1

An irreversible inhibitor permanently inactivates an enzyme by forming a covalent bond at the active site, leading to permanent inhibition which cannot be reversed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kind of inhibitor that binds very tightly to an enzyme, often forming a covalent bond with an amino acid in the active site, is an irreversible inhibitor. This type of inhibitor inactivates the enzyme by bonding covalently to a specific group within the active site. Such irreversible binding results in permanent inhibition of the enzyme activity because the enzyme-inhibitor bond cannot be dissociated; hence, this process cannot be reversed.