Control of Metabolic Pathways by Substrate Concentration

Introduction

• Metabolic pathways are essential for various cellular processes, but their rates of reaction need to be regulated for optimal function.
• Enzymes play a central role in these pathways, and their activity can be influenced to control metabolic processes.

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Enzyme Reaction Rate

• The rate of enzyme reaction can be affected by the concentration of the substrate.
• As the substrate concentration increases, the enzyme reaction rate also increases.

Saturation Point

• Enzyme reaction rate continues to increase with increasing substrate concentration until a certain point.
• This point is called the saturation point, and it occurs when all of the active sites on the enzyme are occupied by the substrate.
• At the saturation point, the enzyme is working at its maximum capacity, and adding more substrate does not further increase the reaction rate.

Enzymes and Substrates Graph

• A graphical representation of the relationship between enzyme reaction rate and substrate concentration shows an initial steep increase followed by a plateau at the saturation point.

---

Control of Metabolic Pathways by Substrate Concentration