Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Does aspirin inhibit allosterically (non-competitively), or competitively?

It is non-competitive inhibition.

Aspirin IRREVERSIBLY binds, and deactivates, the enzyme 'cyclooxygenase'. One of the effects of this is to reduce platelet aggregation and thereby prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Since the effect is irreversible, platelets will be affected for their entire lifespan.

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