The induced fit and lock-and-key model are two models that describe the interaction between enzyme and substrate. The induced fit model proposes that the enzyme’s active site is flexible and capable of changing its structural configuration to fit the substrate perfectly. The lock-and-key model proposes that the enzyme’s active site and the shape of the substrate molecule complement each other and fit together like a lock and key. If their shapes are not complementary, they are unable to bind as no structural changes take place.
There are several advantages of the induced fit model over the lock and key model:
Illustrates the broad specificity of enzymes and explains how enzymes are capable of recognizing and binding to a diverse variety substrates
Portrays enzymes as more structurally flexible and are capable of transforming their shape to fit substrates more precisely, ensuring that enzymes can function more efficiently
Explains the mechanisms and possible causes of enzymatic catalysis, in particular how the conformational change induced by substrate binding stresses the bonds within the substrate, making them more reactive, which leads to more efficient catalysis
Prevents unwanted reactions from occurring and allows only desired reactions to occur within the cell by ensuring that enzymes remain inactive until the appropriate substrate is present
Enables more precise regulation and control over metabolic pathways because enzymes can be modulated by other molecules that either enhance or inhibit their activity
Ensures that the enzyme-substrate complex is thermodynamically more stable than when they are separate, which allows the reaction to proceed more efficiently
Minimizes the odds of wasteful or harmful side reactions by ensuring a precise fit only when the correct substrate is present
Facilitates multi-step reactions by allowing enzymes to undergo multiple structural changes, each optimized for a specific step in the reaction
Enables enzymes to change their shapes, which offers more flexibility in evolution, allowing organisms to better adapt to evolving environments