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The competitive inhibition equation calculates the initial reaction rate for enzyme-catalyzed reactions in the presence of a competitive inhibitor. It describes how an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the enzyme's active site, reducing the reaction rate.
The calculator uses the competitive inhibition equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for the effect of competitive inhibitors by modifying the Michaelis-Menten equation with an inhibition term.
Details: Calculating the initial reaction rate is crucial for understanding enzyme kinetics, designing enzymatic reactions, and studying inhibitor effects in biochemical systems and drug development.
Tips: Enter all values in appropriate units (mol/m³ for concentrations, s⁻¹ for rate constant). All values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is competitive inhibition?
A: Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor molecule competes with the substrate for binding to the enzyme's active site, reducing the enzyme's efficiency.
Q2: How does competitive inhibition affect KM and Vmax?
A: Competitive inhibition increases the apparent KM (makes it harder for substrate to bind) but does not affect the Vmax (maximum reaction rate).
Q3: What are typical values for Ki?
A: Ki values vary widely depending on the enzyme and inhibitor, ranging from nanomolar to millimolar concentrations.
Q4: When is this equation applicable?
A: This equation applies to systems where the inhibitor binds reversibly to the enzyme's active site and follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Q5: How can I distinguish competitive from non-competitive inhibition?
A: In competitive inhibition, Vmax remains unchanged while KM increases. In non-competitive inhibition, Vmax decreases while KM remains constant.