What is the difference between non competitive and competitive inhibitors?

Competative inhibitors bind with the enzyme at the active site, blocking the substrate from binding and therefor preventing the substrate from binding and forming enzyme substrate complexes. Therefor if you increase the concentration of substrate you can increase the reaction rate as the substrate competes with the inhibitor for the binding site.

Non-competative inhibitors however bind to the enzyme away from the active site, changing the shape of the active site so the substrate cant bind. This cannot be overcome by an increase in concentration of substrate.

AK
Answered by Anja K. Biology tutor

7077 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the difference between glucose and glycogen?


How is an Action Potential produced in a neurone?


Describe the differences between DNA and RNA. (3 marks)


What is the role of the nucleus?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning