Toxins can alter the kinetics of enzymes by acting as competitive, non-competitive, or uncompetitive inhibitors:
Competitive inhibition: The toxin competes with the substrate for the active site on the enzyme. This increases the apparent Km without affecting Vmax. Non-competitive inhibition: The toxin binds to a different site on the enzyme, reducing Vmax but not affecting Km. Uncompetitive inhibition: The toxin binds to the enzyme-substrate complex, decreasing both Km and Vmax.
By understanding these mechanisms, toxicologists can better predict how toxins will affect metabolic processes.
