Aspirin relieves pain and fever by irreversibly blocking the enzyme cyclooxygenase. In enzyme terminology, aspirin acts as
- A. a coenzyme
- B. an activator
- C. a substrate
- D. an enzyme inhibitor
Explanation
By disabling cyclooxygenase, aspirin stops the making of prostaglandins, the chemicals that promote pain, fever and inflammation. It is not consumed as a substrate nor does it assist the enzyme, so it can only be classed as an inhibitor.
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