Principles of Biochemistry (2+1)

8.2.1.1 Lock and key model

 

To account for the highly specific way an enzyme recognizes a substrate and binds it to the active site, researchers have proposed several models.e.g 1.Lock ad key model 2.Induced fit model

1.Lock ad key model: 

In the lock and key model, the active site in the enzyme has a fixed, rigid geometrical conformation. It is a simple model.  Only substrates with a complementary geometry can be accommodated at such a site, much as a lock accepts only certain keys. The lock and key model explains the action of numerous enzymes. It is, however, too restrictive for the action of many other enzymes.