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What is the term used to describe when an enzyme has been distorted so that it no longer has the correct active site shape?

User Candiru
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Final answer:

The term for distortion of an enzyme's active site shape, preventing it from functioning, is denaturation. This is different from the induced-fit model where the active site adaptively changes shape to bind substrates but remains functional.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an enzyme has been distorted so that it no longer has the correct active site shape, the term used to describe this condition is denaturation. Denaturation is any change in the three-dimensional structure of a macromolecule like an enzyme that prevents it from performing its intended function. Factors such as temperature, pH, and the presence of certain chemicals can cause enzymes to denature. In contrast to denaturation, the induced-fit model describes how an enzyme's active site can change shape to accommodate a substrate, thereby enhancing catalysis without permanently altering the enzyme's basic structure.

User Muchwow
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