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GATE 2024 BT – Question 44

General Biology · Biochemistry: Enzymes, classification, catalytic and regulatory strategies, Michaelis-Menten kinetics and inhibition · 2 marks · Multiple select

Which of the following statements is/are correct about an uncompetitive inhibitor of an enzyme?

  1. It binds to the substrate binding site of the enzyme only
  2. It binds to the enzyme-substrate complex only
  3. It reduces the Vmax of the enzyme
  4. It binds to both free enzyme and enzyme-substrate complex

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Correct answer: (B) It binds to the enzyme-substrate complex only; (C) It reduces the Vmax of the enzyme

Explanation

An uncompetitive inhibitor binds only to the enzyme-substrate complex, which lowers both $V_{max}$ and $K_m$. Binding to both free enzyme and ES complex is non-competitive or mixed inhibition.