BIOC 2580 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Enzyme Kinetics, Reaction Rate, Enzyme

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Biochemistry
• Course: BIOC 2580
• Professor: Enoka Wijekoon

Document Summary

Synopsis: enzyme kinetics studies how rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions depend on the concentrations of substrates. Enzyme reactions do not show the simple zero, first or second order relationships of chemical reactions. Instead the reaction reaches a limiting or saturation rate. This behaviour is governed by the michaelis-menten equation and the two characteristic constants associated with this equation, vmax and km. If decrease in substrate concentration or increase in product concentration is measured over a period of time for an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, the data can be plotted as a curve called the progress curve. Reaction rate is the slope of the curve. The initial reaction rate is given the symbol vo, and is the tangent to the progress curve at time zero (negative tangent if disappearance of reactant is measured). Some enzyme reactions remain linear for a significant time, making slope measurement easier; some reactions follow curves as in the examples.