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Km Enzyme definitions

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  • Michaelis Constant
    Substrate concentration at which initial reaction velocity equals half of the theoretical maximal velocity in enzyme kinetics.
  • Vmax
    Theoretical maximal reaction velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, acting as a horizontal asymptote in kinetics plots.
  • Substrate Concentration
    Amount of substrate present, often measured in molarity, crucial for determining enzyme activity and Km.
  • Enzyme Active Site
    Region on an enzyme where substrate molecules bind, enabling formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.
  • Enzyme-Substrate Complex
    Temporary molecular structure formed when substrate binds to enzyme, central to reaction rate and Km calculations.
  • Rate Constant
    Numerical value characterizing the speed of association or dissociation in enzyme reactions, denoted as k1, k-1, or k2.
  • Steady State
    Condition in enzyme kinetics where the concentration of the enzyme-substrate complex remains constant over time.
  • Affinity
    Strength of attraction between enzyme and substrate, inversely related to Km value.
  • Intrinsic Property
    Characteristic of an enzyme, such as Km, that remains unchanged regardless of enzyme concentration.
  • Dissociation Rate Constant
    Value representing the speed at which the enzyme-substrate complex breaks apart, symbolized as k-1 or k2.
  • Association Rate Constant
    Value representing the speed at which enzyme and substrate combine to form the enzyme-substrate complex, symbolized as k1.
  • First Order Rate Constant
    Rate constant with units of inverse seconds, relevant when only one reactant is involved in the reaction step.
  • Second Order Rate Constant
    Rate constant with units of inverse molarity and inverse seconds, relevant when two reactants are involved.
  • Molarity
    Unit of concentration used in enzyme kinetics, indicating moles of substrate per liter of solution.
  • Enzyme Efficiency
    Measure of how effectively an enzyme converts substrate to product, often assessed using Km and Vmax.