Enzyme Kinetics -- Part I
I. Introduction to Enzyme Kinetics.
In chemistry, kinetics has to do with the rate of reactions. In biochemistry, we are most interested in rates of enzyme catalyzed reactions since virtually all biological reactions are catalyzed by enzymes.
Enzyme Kinetics: Rates of enzyme catalyzed reactions
Usefulness of enzyme kinetics:
1. Common clinical assays to detect enzymes
2. Understanding metabolic pathways
3. Measuring binding of substrates and inhibitors to the active site of an enzyme
4. Understanding the mechanism of catalysis of an enzyme
Rates of reactions are measured by change in reactant amounts with time. You can measure the disappearance of the substrate or the appearance of the product. Usually, the appearance of the product is easier to keep track of since there should be no product present at the beginning of the reaction.
Figure 1. Ways to express a rate for the enzyme catalyzed reaction.
Rates = Reaction Velocity
For enzymes, the initial velocity (before significant product accumulates) is always used.
Initial Velocity = Vo
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©Wilbur H. Campbell, 1995; wcampbel@mtu.edu