Activator (biochemistry)

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In biochemistry, activators are compounds that promote the activity of enzymes , i.e. accelerate catalytic reactions. Activators are also known as positive effectors . In contrast, negative effectors, inhibitors of enzyme activity, are also called inhibitors . A distinction can be made between physiological and non-physiological effectors. The binding to the enzyme can be reversible or irreversible. In addition, a distinction is made between isosteric (binding to the active center of the enzyme) and allosteric activation (binding outside the active center).

An example of a reversible activator is acetyl-CoA , which increases the enzyme activity of pyruvate carboxylase .

source

  • Georg Löffler, Petro E. Petrides (Ed.): Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry . 7th edition, Springer Medizin Verlag, Heidelberg 2003, p. 122, ISBN 3-540-42295-1