Microorganisms have many enzymes that function in the myriad of activities that produce a growing and dividing cell. From a health standpoint, some enzymes are vital for the establishment of an infection by the microbes. Some enzymes are active all the time. These are known as constitutive enzymes. However, other enzymes are active only periodically, when their product is required. Such enzymes are known as inducible enzymes.

The ability of microorganisms such as bacteria to control the activity of inducible enzymes is vital for their survival. The constant activity of such enzymes could result in the overproduction of a compound, which would be an energy drain on the microorganism. At the same time, inducible enzymes must be capable of a rapid response to whatever condition they are geared to respond.

The twin goals of control of activity and speed of response are...