An enzyme inhibitor is a molecule that binds to an enzyme's active site, or another site on the enzyme, and blocks the enzyme's catalysis of the reaction. Enzyme inhibitors are generally specific to one enzyme and control that enzyme's activity. They also control essential enzymes such as proteases or nucleases that, if left unchecked, may damage a cell. Many poisons produced by animals or plants are enzyme inhibitors, and many drug molecules are enzyme inhibitors that inhibit an aberrant human enzyme or an enzyme critical for the survival of a pathogen. Since anti- pathogen inhibitors generally target only one enzyme, such drugs are highly specific and generally produce few side effects in humans. Medicinal enzyme inhibitors often have low dissociation constants, meaning a minute amount of the inhibitor will inhibit the enzyme. The discovery of enzyme inhibitors and their refinement are researched in biochemistry and pharmacology.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme_inhibitor

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1802:

German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered Pallas, the second asteroid ever identified, although it was considered to be a planet at the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Pallas

1933:

After an on-board fire that may have been the first incident of airliner sabotage, the Imperial Airways biplane City of Liverpool broke apart in mid-air, killing fifteen people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1933_Imperial_Airways_Diksmuide_crash

1997:

In the Tragedy of Otranto, the Italian Navy vessel Sibilla collided with the Albanian civilian vessel Kateri i Radës, causing the latter to sink and leading to dozens of deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_Otranto

2015:

A siege of a hotel in Mogadishu by al-Shabaab militants, which began the previous day and killed at least 20 people, ended with the Somali Armed Forces recapturing the premises. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makka_al-Mukarama_hotel_attack

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

lengthman: (nautical, rail transport, road transport, chiefly historical) A man responsible for the care and maintenance of a length of canal, railway, or road. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lengthman

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself, and you're set I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way.   --Lady Gaga https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga