236 



6. INTERACTIONS OF INHIBITORS WITH ENZYMES 



The interactions between four types of nonpolar molecules are shown 

 in Fig. 6-8 and Table 6-10; the data and constants from which these curves 

 were calculated are given in Tables 6-11, 6-12, and 6-13. These molecules 

 have equilibrium interaction distances that are very similar and yet the 

 potential energies at these equilibrium distances are quite different, show- 

 ing a twenty-four fold range from Hg to CO2. This demonstrates the de- 



7.5 A 



Fig. 6-8. Energy curves for the interactions between four types of 

 nonpolar molecules, cp is in kcal/mole. See Tables 6-10 and 6-11. 



pendence of the interaction energy on the number of polarizable electrons 

 involved. It may be observed that the repulsion forces increase rapidly 

 below the equilibrium distance; in each case the interaction energy is zero 

 when the molecules are around 0.4 A closer than the equilibrium distance. 

 The appreciable amount of energy resulting from dispersion interactions 

 may also be remarked. 



