What is the Significance of the Michaelis Constant in Catalysis?
The Michaelis Constant provides significant insights into enzyme catalysis and the efficiency of enzymes. It helps in understanding: - Enzyme Affinity: A low Km value suggests that the enzyme binds the substrate tightly, indicating high affinity. - Catalytic Efficiency: Km is used alongside \( k_{cat} \) (turnover number) to determine the catalytic efficiency (\( \frac{k_{cat}}{K_m} \)). - Enzyme Inhibition: Inhibitors can alter Km values, providing insights into the mechanism of inhibition and allowing the design of more effective inhibitors.
