Irreversible Inhibition
Irreversible inhibition means that the inhibitor covalently binds to the functional
group of the active center of the enzyme, thus inhibiting the activity of the enzyme.
Irreversible inhibitors cannot be removed by physical methods such as dialysis and
restore enzyme activity.
Irreversible inhibitors often contain reactive functional groups such as nitrogen
mustards, aldehydes, haloalkanes, alkenes, Michael acceptors, phenyl sulfonates, or
fluorophosphonates. These electrophilic groups react with amino acid side chains
to form covalent adducts. Irreversible inhibition is different from irreversible
enzyme inactivation. Irreversible inhibitors are generally specific for one class of
enzyme and do not inactivate all proteins; they do not function by destroying
protein structure but by specifically altering the active site of their target.
Creative Enzymes Inc.
www.creative-enzymes.com