Enzyme activity is tightly regulated through various mechanisms to ensure metabolic balance:
- Allosteric regulation: Enzymes can be activated or inhibited by molecules binding to sites other than the active site, known as allosteric sites. - Feedback inhibition: End products of a metabolic pathway can inhibit enzymes involved in the pathway, preventing the overproduction of the end product. - Covalent modification: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of enzymes can activate or deactivate their catalytic activity.
