ALLOSTERIC SITES Meaning and
Definition
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Allosteric sites refer to specific regions on an enzyme or protein where a non-substrate molecule, known as an allosteric regulator, can bind and modulate the enzyme's activity. An allosteric regulator can either enhance (positive allosteric regulation) or inhibit (negative allosteric regulation) the enzyme's function. The binding of this regulatory molecule induces a conformational change in the enzyme's structure, altering its active site's shape and thereby affecting its ability to bind to substrate molecules.
These sites are distinct from the active site, where the enzyme normally binds to its substrate, and do not directly participate in catalysis. Instead, they regulate enzymatic activity by modifying the enzyme's affinity for its substrate or by influencing the rate of catalytic reactions. Allosteric sites are often located away from the active site, potentially on a different subunit of a multi-subunit enzyme. This spatial separation allows for long-range communication between allosteric sites and the active site, enabling the regulation of enzymatic activity based on the conditions or needs of the cell.
The existence of allosteric sites provides a mechanism for fine-tuning enzyme activity and maintaining cellular homeostasis. By binding to these sites, allosteric regulators can act as molecular switches, controlling enzymatic reactions in response to various signals or metabolic cues. Studying allosteric sites and their regulators can lead to a deeper understanding of enzyme function and pave the way for the development of targeted drugs that modulate protein activity through allosteric regulation.
Common Misspellings for ALLOSTERIC SITES
- zllosteric sites
- sllosteric sites
- wllosteric sites
- qllosteric sites
- aklosteric sites
- aplosteric sites
- aolosteric sites
- alkosteric sites
- alposteric sites
- aloosteric sites
- allisteric sites
- allksteric sites
- alllsteric sites
- allpsteric sites
- all0steric sites
- all9steric sites
- alloateric sites
- allozteric sites
- alloxteric sites
- allodteric sites
Etymology of ALLOSTERIC SITES
The term "allosteric" originates from the Greek words "allos" meaning "other" and "stereos" meaning "solid" or "space". The Greek roots of "allosteric" reflect the concept that this kind of site on a protein molecule is distinct from the active site responsible for catalysis. It was first introduced by the British biochemists Monod, Wyman, and Changeux in 1965 to describe a phenomenon wherein a ligand can bind to a specific site (allosteric site) on a protein, inducing conformational changes in the protein structure and impacting its activity. In summary, "allosteric sites" refer to binding sites on a protein molecule that are spatially separate from the active site and modulate the protein's activity by inducing conformational changes when bound to specific ligands.
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