Allosteric enzymes heterotropic effects

Relationship between the initial velocity (v) and the substrate concentration [S] for an allosteric enzyme that shows a heterotropic effect with constant Vmax but with varying ATq.s- Curve a is obtained in the absence of any modulators, curve b in the presence of a positive modulator, and curve c in the presence of a negative modulator. Regulation is achieved by modulation of ATq.s without change in F ax. 

Let us first define two terms. Homotropic effects are allosteric interactions that occur when several identical molecules are bound to a protein. The binding of substrate molecules to different sites on an enzyme, such as the binding of aspartate to ATGase, is an example of a homotropic effect. Heterotropic effects are allosteric interactions that occur when different substances (such as inhibitor and substrate) are bound to the protein. In the ATGase reaction, inhibition by GTP and activation by ATP are both heterotropic effects. 

Homotropic effect refers to allosteric effects produced by enzyme s own substrate and heterotropic effects are due to metabohtes that are not stmcturaUy related to enzyme s substrates. Positive effects are related to enzyme activation and negative effects to enzyme inhibition. Thus, fmctose-diphosphate is a positive allosteric effector of pymvate kinase. 

Heterotropic effectors The effector may be different from the substrate, in which case the effect is said to be heterotropic. For example, consider the feedback inhibition shown in Figure 5.17. The enzyme that converts A to B has an allosteric site that binds the end-product, E. If the concentration of E increases (for example, because it is not used as rapidly as it is synthesized), the initial enzyme in the pathway is inhibited. Feedback inhibition provides the cell with a product it needs by regulating the flow of substrate molecules through the pathway that synthesizes that product. [Note Heterotropic effectors are commonly encountered, for example, the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinases allosterically inhibited by citrate, which is not a substrate for the enzyme (see p. 97).]... 

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