active site
enzyme’s specific region to which the substrate binds
The active site is the region on an enzyme molecule where the chemical reaction takes place. It is a highly specific region that forms a three-dimensional shape that can only fit a specific substrate molecule. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in cells, and the active site is where they interact with the substrate molecule to catalyze the reaction. The active site typically contains amino acid residues that are involved in the catalytic activity, such as binding to the substrate, stabilizing the transition state of the reaction, or facilitating the transfer of electrons. Changes to the active site can affect the enzyme’s activity, as alterations in its structure could prevent the substrate from binding or hinder the catalytic activity. Therefore, understanding the structure and function of the active site is essential to designing drugs that target enzymes and to studying the mechanisms of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
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