A competitive inhibitor competes for the active site, effectively making it harder for the enzyme to bind its substrate. More substrate is required to reach half the maximum velocity. Therefore, the apparent Km (substrate concentration at 1/2 Vmax) is increased in the presence of a competitive inhibitor.
A competitive inhibitor competes for the active site, effectively making it harder for the enzyme to bind its substrate. More substrate is required to reach half the maximum velocity. Therefore, the apparent Km (substrate concentration at 1/2 Vmax) is increased in the presence of a competitive inhibitor.