Enzymes are highly specific to their substrates. They bind these substrates at complementary areas on their surfaces, providing a snug fit that many scientists compare to a lock and key.

The active site of an enzyme has a unique three-dimensional structure that allows it to bind to a specific substrate, much like a lock and key. This specificity ensures that enzymes catalyze only the ...

“We demonstrate exactly where the molecule binds, between two separate chains of the enzyme. The binding site is extremely specific, which helps us understand how the enzyme works and how we can ...

The cell can also regulate the rate of reaction of key enzymes. The binding of the enzyme to its substrate also lowers the activation energy of the reaction (amount of energy needed to make a ...

In the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, an enzyme will bind to a reactant and facilitate its transformation into a product. Consequently, an enzyme-catalyzed reaction pathway has a smaller energy ...

Inhibitors can be used to stop an enzyme from binding to its substrate. As a result, inhibitors can directly control the progress of a metabolic pathway.