Enzyme Kinetics- is my summary correct?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around enzyme kinetics, specifically the Michaelis-Menten model and the relationships between the enzyme-substrate complex (ES), the Michaelis constant (Km), and the turnover number (Kcat). Participants are examining the correctness of a summary related to these concepts, exploring the implications of different values of Km and Kcat on enzyme reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant summarizes the overall enzyme reaction as consisting of two parts, with Part 1 dependent on Km and Part 2 on Kcat, proposing four scenarios based on their values.
  • Another participant notes that the derivation of Michaelis-Menten kinetics relies on the steady-state approximation, where the change in concentration of ES over time is zero.
  • A different participant challenges the relevance of the speed of ES formation, emphasizing that at saturation, the rate is determined solely by Kcat and total enzyme concentration.
  • There are discussions about notation, specifically the use of square brackets for substrate concentration, with some participants suggesting alternatives.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance of the speed of ES formation and the implications of Km and Kcat values. There is no consensus on the correctness of the initial summary, and multiple competing interpretations of enzyme kinetics are present.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the importance of considering both the mathematical formulas and the physical situations they represent, indicating potential limitations in understanding if one only focuses on one aspect.

Lo.Lee.Ta.
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I have been looking at this enzyme kinetics stuff forever and was trying to come up with a summary for things... #=_=

Is this even right...? :/

|---------------|This segment I'm calling "Part 2"
k1 k2
E + S
equilibrium.png
ES
rarrow.png
E + P
k-1
|---------------|This segment I'm calling "Part 1"

Part 1 and Part 2 are separate reactions, but together, they form the overall enzyme reaction.
Part 1 is dependent on the Km value, Part 2 is dependent on the Kcat value, and the entire enzyme reaction is dependent on the ratio of Kcat to Km (or Kcat/Km).

Part 1:
Since it is dependent on the Km value, and Km = (k-1 + k2)/k1, which means
(ES breakdown)/(ES formation), you have to ask, "Is the ES breakdown higher than the formation?"
If yes, then it means
spinup.png
Km, so ES tends to break down (slow).
If no,
spindown.png
Km, so ES tends to stay together (fast rxn).

Part 2:
Have to ask, "Is Kcat high or low?"
If high, fast product formation.
If low, slow product formation.So for the entire enzyme-catalyzed reaction, it seems like there would only be these 4 possibilities:

1.
spinup.png
Kcat +
spinup.png
Km = slow for ES to form, but once it does, quickly generates product.2.
spinup.png
Kcat +
spindown.png
Km = fast for ES to form and quickly generates product.3.
spindown.png
Kcat +
spinup.png
Km = slow for ES to form, and once it does, slowly generates product.4.
spindown.png
Kcat +
spindown.png
Km = fast for ES to form, but slowly generates product.
...Well, is any of this even right?
sad.gif

Please help me! D:
Thank you SO much!
smiley.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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What book are you using?

The general derivation of Michaelis-Menton kinetics is based upon the steady-state approximation.

In the case of modeling Enzyme kinetics, it says that the change in concentration of the Enzyme-Substrate complex [ES] with time is zero.

The speed with which ES forms is given by k1[E]. The rate of destruction of ES is given by -k-1[ES] - k2[ES] (falling back or going to products)

Km is more like an equilibrium constant. Think about the case without any reaction (k2 very small). If this is the case, then k1[E] = k-1[ES] (definition of equilibrium)
Keq = [ES]/[E] = k1/k-1 (looks almost like 1/Km)

I think the usual way of thinking abou this is similar to the way you described above, except you think about things in terms of how much enzyme is tied up with substrate and the speed with which the enzyme reacts once it has boud substrate.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I find your statements tending to the 'not even wrong' I'm afraid.

Formation of ES being fast or slow is irrelevant because in the assumptions of steady-state you are treating a situation where all that is going to be formed already has been. So that leaves the questions how much has been formed? how fast does it give product?

At saturation ( [Substrate] >> Km) practically all the enzyme is in the form ES. The rate is simply kcatEtotal.
The higher kcat the faster the reaction.

Instead if substrate concentration is low such that S << Km your can see your equation simplifies so that v is still proportional to kcat but then also to 1/Km

The first is simple and as before, the second is because the higher the Km the less ES complex there is (at low S!) to be catalysed.
At every stage you should look at formulas but also consider the physical situations they represent, go between one and the other at every
stage.

I am sorry about these unintended cancellations, an artefact of the system. :(
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Looks like we cannot write S in square brackets! :oldgrumpy:
 
epenguin said:
Looks like we cannot write S in square brackets! :oldgrumpy:
So that's what is causing all of the strikethroughs?
 
I think so. We should use x for S and then EX for the complex I guess.
 
Add a space [ S].
 
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Borek said:
Add a space [ S].

Yes thank you, I had worked out to try that which I would have done if there had been any more comeback on this thread, :oldsmile:.
 

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