Enzyme activator

Enzyme activators are molecules that bind to enzymes and increase their activity. These molecules are often involved in the allosteric regulation of enzymes in the control of metabolism. In opposition to coenzymes, enzyme activators are inorganic compounds, while both coenzyms and activators are cofactors.[1]

An example of an enzyme activator working in this way is fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, which activates phosphofructokinase 1 and increases the rate of glycolysis in response to the hormone glucagon.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.html
  2. ^ Kurland IJ, Pilkis SJ (06/01/1995). "Covalent control of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase: insights into autoregulation of a bifunctional enzyme". Protein Sci. 4 (6): 1023–37. doi:10.1002/pro.5560040601. PMC 2143155. PMID 7549867. http://www.proteinscience.org/cgi/reprint/4/6/1023. 
  3. ^ Okar DA, Lange AJ (1999). "Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and control of carbohydrate metabolism in eukaryotes". Biofactors 10 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1002/biof.5520100101. PMID 10475585.