Enzyme induction and inhibition

Enzyme induction describes the induction of gene expression of an enzyme. By enzyme induction the concentration of the enzyme is increased. In contrast to the enzyme induction enzyme activation leads to an increase in the enzyme activity. A substance which causes the induction is referred to as an inductor in biochemistry. Repression of gene expression as the opposite of enzyme induction is achieved by repressors, next can be an enzyme inhibition.

Enzyme induction in medicine

The effect of induction makes you look at the breakdown of drugs and take advantage of Poisoning to biotransform toxic substances as soon as possible. An example is the induction of the enzyme cytochrome P450 by St. John's wort. Cytochrome P450 is responsible for the metabolism ( metabolism ) of many drugs. Agents such as warfarin, HAART drugs, antibiotics or certain oral contraceptives can be degraded more rapidly by the human organism. It is therefore possible that, for example, while taking St. John's wort, these drugs for the desired period ( pill = 24 hours) can not act sufficiently. Far more devastating are the possible consequences of combined intake of a certain enzyme inducer and immunosuppressants. These are often given after an organ transplant and prevent implanted organs are rejected.

Enzyme inhibitors may be used to prevent drugs are degraded too quickly. This saves on the use of drugs such as for very expensive drugs or with drugs that are expressed more side effects in higher doses.