Question

alcohol dehydrogenase (adh) is an enzyme that aids in the decomposition of ethyl alcohol (c₂h₅oh) into nontoxic substances. methyl alcohol acts as a competitive inhibitor of ethyl alcohol by competing for the same active site on adh. when attached to adh, methyl alcohol is converted to formaldehyde, which is toxic in the body. which of the following statements best predicts the effect of increasing the concentration of substrate (ethyl alcohol), while keeping the concentration of the inhibitor (methyl alcohol) constant? a there will be an increase in formaldehyde because adh activity increases. b competitive inhibition will be terminated because ethyl alcohol will bind to methyl alcohol and decrease adh activity. c the peptide bonds in the active site of the enzyme will be denatured, inhibiting the enzyme. d competitive inhibition will decrease because the proportion of the active sites occupied by substrate will increase.

Explanation:

In competitive inhibition, the inhibitor and substrate compete for the enzyme's active - site. When substrate concentration increases while inhibitor concentration is constant, more active - sites will be occupied by the substrate. This reduces the proportion of active - sites occupied by the inhibitor, thus decreasing competitive inhibition.

Answer:

D. Competitive inhibition will decrease because the proportion of the active sites occupied by substrate will increase.