Inhibitor

Definition

An inhibitor is a molecule that binds to an enzyme or receptor and decreases its activity. In biological systems, inhibitors play crucial roles in regulating cell signaling pathways and response mechanisms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Inhibitors can be competitive, non-competitive, or allosteric, depending on where and how they bind to their target molecules.
2. Many pharmaceuticals function as inhibitors to modulate the activity of specific enzymes or receptors involved in disease processes.
3. Inhibitors can prevent the activation of a signaling pathway by blocking the binding of agonists or substrates.
4. Feedback inhibition is a common cellular strategy where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step to maintain homeostasis.
5. Inhibition can be reversible or irreversible; reversible inhibitors temporarily bind to targets while irreversible inhibitors form permanent associations.

Review Questions

• What are the different types of enzyme inhibitors based on their binding sites?
• How do pharmaceutical inhibitors typically function within biological systems?
• What role does feedback inhibition play in cellular homeostasis?

Related terms

Agonist: A molecule that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Allosteric Site: A site on an enzyme other than the active site where a molecule can bind and influence enzyme activity.

Enzyme Kinetics: The study of the rates at which enzyme-catalyzed reactions proceed and how they are affected by various factors.