What is a characteristic of enzymes in relation to substrate channeling?

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Prepare for the UCF BCH4024 Medical Biochemistry Exam 1. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations on various key topics. Boost your confidence and ensure you're ready for your exam!

The concept of substrate channeling refers to the phenomenon where substrates are directly passed from one enzyme to another enzyme in a pathway without diffusing into the bulk solution. This allows for increased efficiency and specificity in metabolic reactions, minimizing the potential for loss of intermediates and reducing the time it takes for the substrate to travel between enzymes.

The correct understanding is that enzymes often facilitate or enhance substrate channeling by forming complexes or through substrate channels. When enzymes are closely associated, they can pass substrate intermediates directly to one another, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the metabolic pathway. This means that enzymes actively participate in substrate channeling rather than having no impact on it.

Therefore, the choice claiming that enzymes have no impact on substrate channeling is misleading. It's essential to recognize that enzymes play a crucial role in substrate channeling, enhancing the overall kinetics of biochemical reactions by reducing the transport time and increasing the specificity of substrate conversion.