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"Below is a metabolic pathway having 3 chemical reactions and 3 enzymes. Enzyme 1 has 2 binding sites--1 for the substrate A and another for the end product D. As the pathway proceeds, the end product in higher quantities will react with enzyme 1, blocking the enzyme's binding to the substrate. Which statement is true about this pathway?

a. This is a case of noncompetitive inhibition.
b. As a result of the inhibition of the enzyme, there will eventually be less substrate converted to the end product D.
c. Enzyme 1 has an active site and a regulatory site
d. All of the choices are correct"

User Tharris
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In the metabolic pathway discussed, the end product D acting as a noncompetitive inhibitor of Enzyme 1 exemplifies feedback inhibition. This results in the decreased conversion of substrate A to product D, and shows that Enzyme 1 possesses both an active site and a regulatory site. Option D is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the metabolic pathway described, where the end product D inhibits Enzyme 1 by binding to a separate site from the active site, this scenario exemplifies a case of noncompetitive inhibition, also known as allosteric inhibition.

The presence of product D at a regulatory site of Enzyme 1 induces a conformational change that impairs the enzyme's ability to bind substrate A at the active site. This form of regulation is referred to as feedback inhibition, whereby the accumulation of the end product regulates the pathway's activity.

The inhibitory effect of product D on Enzyme 1 results in a decrease in the conversion of substrate A into the subsequent products, which means there will eventually be less substrate converted to the end product D.

This regulatory mechanism prevents the wasteful production of substance E when it is not needed by the cell, highlighting the importance of feedback control in metabolic pathways.

Given that Enzyme 1 has both an active site for substrate binding and a regulatory site for feedback inhibition by the end product, it can be deduced that all of the provided choices are correct.

User Luca Rossi
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8.8k points
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