The kinetic mechanism of guinea-pig lung carbonyl reductase was studied at pH 7 in the forward reaction with five carbonyl substrates and NAD(P)H and in the reverse reaction with propan-2-ol and NAD(P)+. In each case the enzyme mechanism was sequential, and product-inhibition studies were consistent with a di-iso ordered bi bi mechanism, in which NAD(P)H binds to the enzyme first and NAD(P)+ leaves last and the binding of cofactor induces isomerization. The kinetic and binding studies of the cofactors and several inhibitors such as pyrazole, benzoic acid, Cibacron Blue and benzamide indicate that the cofactor and Cibacron Blue bind to the free enzyme whereas the other inhibitors bind to the binary and/or ternary complexes.
