Define active site.
Define active site.
The biological catalysts that are not used in the reaction but function to increase the reaction rate by lowering the activation energy are enzymes. Enzymes bind with the substrate temporarily and convert it into the product. Examples of enzymes are lipases, proteases, DNA polymerases, and ligases.
The enzymes' site resembling a pocket formed due to the folding of the protein in the tertiary structure, and depict binding affinity for a substrate is termed an active site. Substrates are specific for the active site, which is generally hydrophilic like a key is specific for the lock (lock and key mechanism). An enzyme usually has two active sites or active pockets for binding to a substrate. Binding of an inhibitor with the enzymes' active site will prevent substate-active site binding, thus lowering the reaction rate. Changes in the pH and temperature impact the reaction rate by altering the active site of the enzyme.
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