Article
Article
Enzyme inhibition
Article By:
Washington, M. Todd Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Last reviewed:May 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.236100
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Prevention of an enzymatic process as a result of the interaction of some substance with the enzyme so as to decrease the rate of reaction. Enzymes, which are usually protein macromolecules, catalyze nearly all of the metabolic reactions in cells. Enzyme inhibition is the general process by which the rate that an enzyme catalyzes a reaction is reduced (Fig. 1). The agent causing the reduction in enzyme activity is called the inhibitor; inhibitors are usually small-molecule chemical compounds, but are, on occasion, other protein macromolecules. Enzyme inhibition is an important phenomenon in biochemistry because it is the basis for much of metabolic regulation. It also is important for medicine because many pharmacologic agents work by inhibiting enzymes. See also: Allosteric enzyme; Biochemistry; Bioorganic chemistry; Catalysis and catalysts; Enzyme; Medicine; Metabolism; Protein
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