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4.4: Substrate Binding

  • Page ID
    3026
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    Another important difference between the mechanism of action of an enzyme and a chemical catalyst is that an enzyme has binding sites that not only ‘grab’ the substrate (molecule involved in the reaction being catalyzed), but also place it in a position to be electronically induced to react, either within itself or with another substrate. The enzyme itself may play a role in the electronic induction or the induction may occur as a result of substrates being placed in very close proximity to each other. Chemical catalysts have no such ability to bind substrates and are dependent upon them colliding in the right orientation at or near their surfaces.

    Figure 4.3.1.png
    Figure 4.3.1: Mechanism of induced fit

    Dr. Kevin Ahern and Dr. Indira Rajagopal (Oregon State University)


    This page titled 4.4: Substrate Binding is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kevin Ahern & Indira Rajagopal via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.