K(M) an V(max) for enzyme reactions:
I have a really hard time to figure these out and keep track of them.
One of the things I find hard to get is V(max). It is defined as:
"Definition. The maximum initial velocity or rate of a reaction. In enzyme kinetics, Vmax is the maximum velocity or rate at which the enzyme catalyzed a reaction. It happens when all enzyme active sites are saturated with substrate."
Is V(max) the rate to FINISH a whole reaction or the rate at which 1 enzyme works?
Regarding the later: Am asking because for me a speed is something which e.g. a car has - and it doesn't get quicker just because there are 99 more cars with drivers in them --> as here, that 1 enzyme with a substrate would be working slower if being alone then if 99 others had substrates in them? But maybe that is the wrong way of interpreting V?
Answers
In enzyme kinetics, Vmax is the maximum velocity or rate at which the enzyme catalyzed a reaction. It happens when all enzyme active sites are saturated with substrate.Observe in the curve i sent, initially there is more enzyme molecules but whn substrate level start increasing they start binding to the enzymes which are totally free to b used for reaction.That is why d cure is steeper at the beginning as substrates quickly bind to the frew enzymes. Now as the no. of enzymes free to b used decreases the rate of binding of the substrates to the enzymes also decreases n so the curve is bcmng flatter on moving forward and after a certain this rate of binding of the substrates to the enzymes bcm constant which is ur Vmax.Just think it like this, there are many toys in a room.Now we open the door to children n they rush in, the toys will b occupied fastly initially but as more n mor children enter the room they will hv to search for free toys n so the rate of toys being occupied will decrease.Same is the case with enzymes. And km is simply the half of Vmax.Hope u understud!!
