Inhbition of acetylcholine by DFP (Diisorpropyl-fluorophosphate) is an example of

Options

A. Competitive inhibition
B. Non - competitive inhibition
C. Non - competitive irreversible inhibition
D. Allosteric inhibition.

Answer

To determine the type of inhibition that DFP (Diisopropyl-fluorophosphate) exerts on acetylcholine, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Types of Enzyme Inhibition
There are three main types of enzyme inhibition:
1. **Competitive Inhibition**: The inhibitor competes with the substrate for binding to the active site of the enzyme.
2. **Non-competitive Inhibition**: The inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, which prevents the enzyme from catalyzing the reaction, regardless of whether the substrate is bound or not.
3. **Irreversible Inhibition**: The inhibitor permanently binds to the enzyme, leading to a permanent loss of enzyme activity.

### Step 2: Analyze DFP's Mechanism of Action
DFP is known to be an irreversible inhibitor. It binds to the hydroxyl group of serine residues in the active site of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. Once DFP binds, it permanently inactivates the enzyme.

### Step 3: Determine the Type of Inhibition
Since DFP permanently binds to the enzyme and inhibits its activity, it is classified as an **irreversible inhibitor**. This means that once DFP is bound to the enzyme, the enzyme can no longer function, and this effect cannot be reversed by simply removing the inhibitor.

### Conclusion
The inhibition of acetylcholine by DFP is an example of **irreversible inhibition**.

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