What is the Significance of the Michaelis Constant (Km)?
The Michaelis constant, \( K_m \), is a critical parameter in the Michaelis-Menten equation. It is defined as the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half of \( V_{max} \). A low \( K_m \) indicates high affinity between the enzyme and the substrate, meaning that the enzyme can achieve half of its maximum catalytic activity at a lower substrate concentration.
