A process by which the activity of an enzyme is reduced by another substance. Specifically the substance is a structural analogue of the natural substrate and competes with it for access to the active site.
Competitive inhibitors have a wide range of pharmaceutical applications.
Compare noncompetitive inhibition . See sulpha drugs . The New Penguin Dictionary of Science 2. The New Penguin Dictionary of Science 3. enzyme The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology 4. enzyme Oxford Paperback Encyclopedia 5. All rights reserved.