Question

In the biosynthetic pathway for folic acid, the compound PABA is the normal substrate for an enzyme in the pathway. The antibiotic sulfanilamide is very similar in structure to PABA and will act as a(n) _______ of the enzyme that acts on PABA.

Answer 1

Answer:

Inhibitor

Explanation:

Enzyme inhibitors are compounds that can interact with the enzyme but don't trigger any biological response. This is what sulfanilamide does. When the enzyme is bound to sulfanilamide, it stops being able to bind PABA, its normal substrate, and so it cannot perform its biological action. In consequence, the entire biosynthetic pathway for folic acid is stopped.