Explain5 marksChallenge
A researcher investigates a newly discovered enzyme, esterase E, which hydrolyses the ester bond in substrate X. The rate of hydrolysis is measured for substrate X and for a modified substrate Y, which differs from X by the addition of a single methyl group. The results are shown in the table.
| Substrate | Rate of hydrolysis (μmol/min) |
|---|---|
| X | 120 |
| Y | 5 |
Explain how the lock-and-key and induced-fit hypotheses of enzyme action could account for the large difference in reaction rates between substrate X and substrate Y.