Solved: Enzymes are often described as following the

Chapter 6, Problem 118AE

(choose chapter or problem)

Enzymes are often described as following the two-step mechanism:

\(\begin{array}{ll} \mathrm{E}+\mathrm{S} \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{ES} & \text { (fast) } \\ \mathrm{ES} \longrightarrow \mathrm{E}+\mathrm{P} & \text { (slow) } \end{array}\)

where \(\mathrm{E}=\) enzyme, \(\mathrm{S}=\) substrate, \(\mathrm{ES}=\) enzyme-substrate complex, and \(\mathrm{P}=\) product.

(a) If an enzyme follows this mechanism, what rate law is expected for the reaction?

(b) Molecules that can bind to the active site of an enzyme but are not converted into product are called enzyme inhibitors. Write an additional elementary step to add into the preceding mechanism to account for the reaction of E with I, an inhibitor.