Transition State Analogue

A transition state analogue is a specially designed molecule that mimics the fleeting, high-energy state (transition state) that occurs during a chemical reaction. Enzymes, which are biological catalysts, stabilize this transition state to speed up reactions. Scientists create these analogues to closely resemble this critical, temporary form, allowing them to bind tightly to the enzyme's active site. This helps in studying enzyme mechanisms and designing inhibitors—drugs that block enzyme activity—by effectively "tricking" the enzyme into binding the analogue instead of the actual substrate.