Understanding inhibition constants is critical for several reasons:
- Drug Development: In pharmacology, inhibitors often serve as drugs. Knowing the Ki helps in designing more effective drugs with higher specificity and lower toxicity. - Catalyst Design: In industrial catalysis, inhibitors can be used to control reaction rates and selectivity. Accurate Ki values assist in optimizing catalytic processes. - Biological Pathways: In biochemistry, inhibitors play a role in regulating metabolic pathways. The Ki helps to understand these regulatory mechanisms.
