Mutations That Result in Single Amino Acid Substitutions in an Enzyme

Question

Mutations that result in single amino acid substitutions in an enzyme
A)may have no effect on the activity or properties of the enzyme.
B)will almost always destroy the activity of the enzyme.
C)will often cause a change in the substrate specificity of the enzyme.
D)may change the ∆G of the reaction.
E)may, in rare cases, cause the enzyme to run reactions in reverse.

Accepted Answer

Mutations that result in single amino acid substitutions in an enzyme may or may not affect the activity or properties of the enzyme. The effect of the mutation depends on the location and nature of the amino acid substitution. Some amino acid substitutions may have no effect on the enzyme, while others may affect the activity, specificity or stability of the enzyme. It is not always the case that the mutation will destroy the activity of the enzyme or change the substrate specificity. Similarly, the mutation may or may not change the ∆G of the reaction, and it is rare for the mutation to cause the enzyme to run reactions in reverse.