Definition of Allosteric Enzyme

An allosteric enzyme is a kind of enzymes that has an additional site where the effector molecules get bound to it. This allosteric site is different from the binding and active site of the enzyme. The size of the allosteric enzymes is larger and they are more complex as compared to the non-allosteric enzymes.

The effector or modulator molecule is responsible for activating as well as inhibiting the enzyme, hence the activity of the enzymes is regulated by them. There are two types of effectors i.e., positive and negative. The positive allosteric effectors tend to enhance the activity of the enzyme whereas the negative effectors tend to inhibit the enzymes.