What is it called when enzyme action is stopped due to an accumulation of an end product acting as a regulatory molecule?

The phenomenon where enzyme action is halted due to the accumulation of an end product that acts as a regulatory molecule is known as feedback inhibition. This regulatory mechanism plays a crucial role in metabolic pathways, allowing cells to maintain homeostasis and prevent the overproduction of certain substances. In feedback inhibition, the end product of a metabolic pathway binds to an enzyme that is usually part of that pathway, leading to a conformational change in the enzyme that reduces its activity or stops it altogether. This helps control the flow of substrates through the pathway, ensuring that resources are not wasted and maintaining balance within the cell.

The relevance of feedback inhibition in biological systems highlights its importance as a self-regulating mechanism. It's commonly found in various metabolic processes, where the final product can inhibit an earlier step, thus preventing excess production when the product is sufficiently available.