Quick question about enzyme allosteric inhibition

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of allosteric inhibition on enzyme kinetics, specifically focusing on the parameters Km and Vmax. Participants explore the implications of allosteric binding on these kinetic parameters and the definitions associated with them.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how allosteric inhibition would affect Km and Vmax.
  • Another participant suggests that inhibition might cause both Km and Vmax to approach zero, though this is not universally accepted.
  • A participant distinguishes between inhibition and inactivation, implying they may not be synonymous.
  • Further elaboration indicates that allosteric enzymes may not exhibit a Km in the traditional sense, as their kinetics can be cooperative rather than Michaelian.
  • It is proposed that allosteric inhibition in a K system increases S0.5, shifting the v,S curves to the right, while in a v-system, it reduces Vmax.
  • There is a mention of the empirical nature of S0.5 as an affinity parameter, which may differ from thermodynamic definitions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effects of allosteric inhibition on Km and Vmax, with no consensus reached on whether inhibition leads to both parameters approaching zero or how they should be interpreted in the context of allosteric enzymes.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the definitions of inhibition versus inactivation, as well as the applicability of Km and Vmax to allosteric enzymes, which may complicate the discussion.

mjolnir80
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lets say an enzyme is inhibited by something binding to its allosteric site. what effect would this have on the enzymes Km and Vmax?
 
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Are you asking how would inhibition affect Km and Vmax?
Do you know the definitions for Km and Vmax and what they mean?
 
yes i do
i was thinking it would cause them both to go to zero if it inhibition?
 
Is inhibition the same as inactivation?
 
mjolnir80 said:
lets say an enzyme is inhibited by something binding to its allosteric site. what effect would this have on the enzymes Km and Vmax?

Can be an effect on either or both.
Monod originally invented the terms 'K system' and 'v system' for effects on K and v respectively.
(I think K effects are more common, but also effects that are purely 100% one or the other are not all that common, though sometimes the v effect is fairly small.)
And with a given enzyme you may find a K effect with one substrate and a v effect with another. There is nothing in theory that says that any effect has to be one or another.

You will realize of course that many allosteric enzymes do not have a Km, because, especially in presence of an inhibitor, the substrate dependency of the reaction rate is not Michaelian but co-operative. The affinity can be expressed by the S0.5, the substrate concentration at half-saturation which is equal to Km in the case of non-cooperative kinetics. An allosteric inhibition in a K system will increase S0.5 (shift v,S curves to right). An allosteric inhibitor in a v-system will reduce Vmax. Both practically by definition! S0.5 is more an empirical than a thermodynamic affinity parameter, the thermodynamic one is the 'median ligand concentration' equal to S0.5 only for symmetrical* curves but that I imagine is for later if at all.

*against log that is
 

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