Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

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What model is often used to explain how enzymes function?

Induced fit model

Lock and key model

The lock and key model is frequently used to describe how enzymes interact with substrates. This model suggests that the enzyme's active site, which is the specific region where the substrate binds, has a unique shape that perfectly fits the substrate, similar to a key fitting into a lock. This precise interaction facilitates the catalytic action of the enzyme, allowing biochemical reactions to occur efficiently.

While the lock and key model highlights the specificity of enzyme-substrate interactions, it's important to note that it does not account for the dynamic nature of enzymes. This is where the induced fit model provides additional insight, as it describes how the active site can undergo a conformational change upon binding the substrate, enhancing the fit and thus the reaction rate. However, in the context of foundational models used to explain enzyme function, the lock and key model remains a significant and commonly referenced concept.

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Activation model

Substrate model

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