Final answer:
Induced fit is a model that describes how an enzyme changes shape to bind optimally to a substrate, increasing the reaction rate. Diagrams of enzyme reactions show the dynamic interaction steps including binding of the substrate, conformational changes within the enzyme, the reaction process, and product release.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of induced fit refers to a model in enzyme kinetics where an enzyme undergoes a conformational change upon binding to its substrate. Unlike the lock-and-key model, which suggests that the enzyme and substrate are perfectly complementary, the induced-fit model proposes that enzymes are flexible and adapt their shape for an optimal fit. The interaction between the enzyme and the substrate induces a structural adjustment within the enzyme's active site, enhancing the enzyme's ability to catalyze the reaction efficiently. After the reaction, the enzyme reverts to its original shape, ready to catalyze another reaction cycle.
Diagrammatically, this is shown as the enzyme approaching and binding to the substrate (a), a conformational change to form an enzyme-substrate complex (b), internal changes facilitating the reaction (c), and finally releasing the products and the enzyme returning to its original form (d). This is illustrated in a series of steps depicting the dynamic nature of enzyme-substrate interactions and supports the premise that enzymes are not rigid structures but are flexible and can adjust to accommodate the substrate's shape.