Introdução aos Conceitos de Velocidade Máxima e de Atividade Específica de Enzimas

• Main Author: Bianconi Lucia Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, SBBq 2001-05-01
• Series: Journal of Biochemistry Education
• Online Access: http://bioquimica.org.br/revista/ojs/index.php/REB/article/view/4

<p class="p1">The understanding of the kinetic parameters of an enzymatic reaction for first time students is usually difficult. Here is shown a simple way to introduce the concepts of maximum rate (Vmax) and specific activity or turnover number of an enzyme. Different simulations with different symbols representing the enzyme, the substrates and products are one, were the concentration of each species is changed at a given condition. At the beginning of the task, it is defined that one enzyme E catalyses the reaction with the substrate S, giving rise to one product P after one minute of reaction. This long time is used just to simplify the exercise. After that, several situations are presented, were the concentrations of E or S is changed, but the above definition is always maintained. After that, it is possible for the student to see that Vmax depends on the enzyme concentration, whereas the specific activity is constant and characteristic for an enzyme.</p>