Which mechanism allows a cell to amplify its response to a signal by increasing enzyme activity?

The amplification of a cellular response to a signal through increased enzyme activity is best illustrated by cooperativity. This mechanism is particularly relevant in multi-subunit enzymes or proteins, where the binding of a substrate or signaling molecule to one subunit can enhance the activity of other subunits within the same enzyme complex.

In cooperative binding, the initial binding event changes the conformation of the protein, making additional binding events more favorable. This results in a significantly greater response than would be expected if each binding event were independent. The classic example of cooperativity is seen in hemoglobin, where the binding of oxygen to one subunit increases the likelihood that other subunits will also bind oxygen, showing how one event can amplify the overall response of the molecule.

While options like allosteric regulation also influence enzyme activity, it generally refers to the binding of an effector molecule at a site distinct from the active site, which can either enhance or inhibit activity but does not specifically focus on the amplification through coordinated action seen in cooperativity. Feedback inhibition, on the other hand, is a regulatory mechanism that typically decreases enzyme activity in response to sufficient product levels, thus acting to stabilize production rather than amplify it. Competitive inhibition involves another molecule competing for the active site, which can