View source for Lock and key mechanism

[[Image:Lock and key.jpg|right|Lock and key mechanism.]]The active site of the [[Enzyme|enzyme]]&nbsp;is a cleft within the enzyme molecule which&nbsp;is complementary to the shape of the [[Substrate|substrate]] ie. the substrate has an exact matching shape to the active site&nbsp;<ref>Berg,J.M.,Tymoczko,J.L.,Stryer,L.(2007)Biochemistry, sixth ed, New York:W.H. Freeman and Company,pp.215</ref>. 

The shape of the active site of an enzyme means that the reaction that takes place will be very specific as only certain molecules are able to bind to it. 

Once the substrate has bound to the active site of the enzyme, they form an enzyme substrate complex<ref>Lodish H., Berk A., Kaiser C., Krieger M., Bretscher A., Ploegh H., Amon A., Scott M., (2000) Molecular Cell Biology</ref><ref>Berg JM., Tymoczko JL., Gatto Jr GJ., Stryer L. (2015)Biochemistry, 8th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. p224</ref>.

=== Reference  ===

<references /> 

<br>