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Enzyme Inhibition — Definition and Types
Pharm D 1st Year | Biochemistry
DEFINITION
Enzyme inhibition is the process by which a substance (the inhibitor) decreases or completely stops the velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
Any substance that can decrease the velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is considered an inhibitor. Inhibitors are important in biochemistry and pharmacology because at least half of the most commonly prescribed drugs act as enzyme inhibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF ENZYME INHIBITION
Enzyme Inhibition
├── 1. Irreversible Inhibition
└── 2. Reversible Inhibition
├── A. Competitive Inhibition
├── B. Noncompetitive Inhibition
└── C. Uncompetitive Inhibition
1. IRREVERSIBLE INHIBITION
Definition
Irreversible inhibitors bind to the enzyme via covalent bonds, permanently destroying enzyme activity. The inhibition cannot be reversed by dilution or by adding more substrate.
Mechanism
- The inhibitor permanently modifies a functional group (e.g., –OH, –SH) at or near the active site.
- Once bound, the enzyme molecule is permanently inactive.
- The effect is progressive with time — it becomes complete when the amount of inhibitor exceeds the total amount of enzyme.
Key Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|
| Bond type | Covalent (permanent) |
| Reversible? | No |
| Effect of adding more substrate | No effect — inhibition is complete |
| Effect of dilution | No effect |
Vmax | Permanently decreased |
Examples (Pharm D Important)
| Inhibitor | Enzyme Inhibited | Clinical Significance |
|---|
| Aspirin | Cyclooxygenase (COX) | Irreversibly inhibits prostaglandin & thromboxane synthesis → anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet |
| Penicillin / Amoxicillin | Transpeptidase (bacterial cell wall enzyme) | Kills bacteria by blocking cell wall synthesis |
| Organophosphates (Sarin, Tabun — nerve gases) | Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) | Irreversibly phosphorylates serine in active site → toxic accumulation of acetylcholine |
| Lead (Pb²⁺) | Ferrochelatase (heme synthesis) | Forms covalent bond with –SH of cysteine → blocks heme synthesis |
| Methotrexate | Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) | Inhibits folate pathway → used in cancer and rheumatoid arthritis |
2. REVERSIBLE INHIBITION
Definition
Reversible inhibitors bind to enzymes through non-covalent bonds (ionic interactions, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions). The inhibitor–enzyme complex can dissociate, and enzyme activity is recoverable by dilution or by adding more substrate.
There are three main types:
A. COMPETITIVE INHIBITION
Definition
The inhibitor is structurally similar to the substrate and competes for the same active site. The enzyme is "deceived" into binding the inhibitor instead of the substrate. Only one can bind at a time.
Mechanism
E + S ⇌ ES → E + P (normal)
E + I ⇌ EI → no product (inhibited)
The inhibitor binds to the free enzyme only — not the ES complex.
Effects on Kinetics
| Parameter | Effect | Reason |
|---|
Vmax | UNCHANGED | Can be overcome by excess substrate |
Km | INCREASED (apparent) | More substrate needed to reach ½ Vmax |
Key rule: Competitive inhibition CAN be overcome by increasing [S].
Lineweaver-Burk Plot (Double Reciprocal Plot)
- Lines intersect on the Y-axis (same 1/V
max)
- Different X-intercepts (different –1/K
m)
- Same V
max, different Km
Drug Examples
| Drug | Target Enzyme | Use |
|---|
| Statins (atorvastatin, pravastatin) | HMG-CoA reductase | ↓ Cholesterol synthesis |
| Methotrexate | Dihydrofolate reductase | Cancer / autoimmune disease |
| ACE inhibitors (captopril, enalapril, lisinopril) | Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme | Hypertension |
| Fluoride ion | Enolase (glycolysis) | Used in lab to prevent glycolysis in blood samples |
| Malonate | Succinate dehydrogenase (Krebs cycle) | Experimental inhibitor |
B. NONCOMPETITIVE INHIBITION
Definition
The inhibitor binds to a different site on the enzyme (allosteric site — NOT the active site). It can bind to both the free enzyme AND the enzyme-substrate (ES) complex, forming an inactive EI or ESI complex. Because it does not compete with the substrate, adding more substrate does NOT help.
Mechanism
E + I ⇌ EI → inactive
ES + I ⇌ ESI → inactive (no product formed)
The inhibitor binds both free enzyme and ES complex, as shown in the diagram below:
Effects on Kinetics
| Parameter | Effect | Reason |
|---|
Vmax | DECREASED | ESI complex cannot form products; cannot be reversed by adding more substrate |
Km | UNCHANGED | Substrate still binds normally to the active site |
Key rule: Noncompetitive inhibition CANNOT be overcome by adding more substrate.
Lineweaver-Burk Plot
- Lines intersect on the X-axis (same –1/K
m)
- Different Y-intercepts (different 1/V
max)
- Same K
m, different Vmax
Examples
| Inhibitor | Enzyme | Note |
|---|
| Heavy metals (Hg²⁺, Ag⁺) | Various enzymes | Bind –SH groups away from active site |
| Alanine | Pyruvate kinase | Allosteric feedback inhibition |
| Cyanide | Cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV) | Blocks electron transport chain |
C. UNCOMPETITIVE INHIBITION
Definition
The inhibitor only binds to the enzyme-substrate (ES) complex — it cannot bind to the free enzyme. It binds at a site that is only exposed after the substrate has bound, forming an inactive ESI ternary complex.
Mechanism
E + S ⇌ ES (normal ES complex forms)
ES + I ⇌ ESI → no product (only ESI — dead end)
This is more common in two-substrate reactions (e.g., reactions in lipid or amino acid metabolism).
Effects on Kinetics
| Parameter | Effect | Reason |
|---|
Vmax | DECREASED | ESI complex is a dead end |
Km | DECREASED | Apparent affinity increases because more ES complex is "trapped" by the inhibitor |
Both Vmax and Km decrease proportionally.
Lineweaver-Burk Plot
- Lines are PARALLEL (same slope)
- Different Y-intercepts
- Both V
max and Km change
Example
| Inhibitor | Enzyme |
|---|
| Lithium | Inositol monophosphatase |
MASTER COMPARISON TABLE
| Feature | Competitive | Noncompetitive | Uncompetitive | Irreversible |
|---|
| Binding site | Active site (same as substrate) | Allosteric site (different) | ES complex only | Active site (covalent) |
| Binds free enzyme? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Binds ES complex? | No | Yes | Yes | — |
Vmax | Unchanged | Decreased | Decreased | Permanently decreased |
Km | Increased | Unchanged | Decreased | — |
| Overcome by excess [S]? | Yes | No | No | No |
| Bond type | Non-covalent | Non-covalent | Non-covalent | Covalent |
| Lineweaver-Burk | Same Y-intercept | Same X-intercept | Parallel lines | — |
CLINICAL/PHARMA IMPORTANCE (Must Know for Pharm D)
"At least half of the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs act as enzyme inhibitors." — Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry
| Drug | Type of Inhibition | Enzyme | Effect |
|---|
| Statins | Competitive | HMG-CoA reductase | ↓ Cholesterol |
| Aspirin | Irreversible | COX-1 / COX-2 | ↓ Inflammation, ↓ platelet aggregation |
| Penicillin | Irreversible | Transpeptidase | ↑ Bacterial death |
| Captopril / Enalapril | Competitive | ACE | ↓ Blood pressure |
| Methotrexate | Irreversible (tight-binding) | DHFR | Anti-cancer |
| Organophosphates | Irreversible | Acetylcholinesterase | ↑ ACh → toxicity |
| Allopurinol | Competitive | Xanthine oxidase | ↓ Uric acid → treats gout |
Sources: Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8th Ed.; Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods; Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine, 7th Ed.; Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach, 6th Ed.