What enzyme inhibitor is not a heavy metal? What enzyme does it interfere with and how?

1 Answer
Jun 8, 2018

Ethanol.

Explanation:

This is just an example.

A person can accidentally drink ethylene glycol which is toxic because a body enzyme catalyses its breakdown to oxalic acid. Oxalic acid could result in permanent kidney damage.

A person will be treated by drinking ethanol. Ethanol will act as a competitive inhibitor to the enzyme as it has a similar to shape to that of ethylene glycol.

As a result, ethylene glycol won't be catalyzed and will be eventually be excreted without being converted to oxalic acid.