An exosite is a secondary binding site, remote from the active site, on an
enzyme
An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...
or other
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
.
This is similar to
allosteric
In the fields of biochemistry and pharmacology an allosteric regulator (or allosteric modulator) is a substance that binds to a site on an enzyme or receptor distinct from the active site, resulting in a conformational change that alters the p ...
sites, but differs in the fact that, in order for an enzyme to be active, its exosite typically must be occupied. Exosites have recently become a topic of increased interest in biomedical research as potential drug targets.
References
External links
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Enzymes
Catalysis
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