induced fit
Shape-shifting enzyme binding
Induced fit describes how an enzyme changes shape when it binds to its substrate, like a hand adjusting to grip a ball rather than a lock receiving a key.
This model replaced the earlier "lock and key" concept, recognizing that molecules are flexible.
The enzyme's active site molds around the substrate, improving the fit and catalytic efficiency: The induced fit model better explains enzyme specificity.
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- lock and keyPaired fastening mechanism
- binding siteMolecular attachment region
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
hand in glove · protein folding · specificity · perfect match · flexibility · catalysis · docking · receptor · ligand · biochemistry · adaptation · complementary · affinity · pocket · snug · moldable · dynamic · handshake
- allosteryeffector, modulator
- Enzymologysubstrate, active site, catalysis, Michaelis-Menten, turnover number
- protein structurefolding, conformation, domain, motif, fold
- reaction mechanismsbond breaking, bond cleavage, SN1, SN2, elimination
- bindingbinding site, affinity, ligand, saturation, occupancy
- enzymeslipase, amylase, protease, kinase, enzyme