Formula Used:
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The Michaelis Constant (KM) in competitive inhibition is the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half of the maximum rate in the presence of a competitive inhibitor. It provides important information about enzyme-substrate affinity under inhibitory conditions.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the apparent Michaelis constant in the presence of competitive inhibition, accounting for the inhibitor's effect on enzyme-substrate binding.
Details: Calculating KM under competitive inhibition conditions is crucial for understanding enzyme kinetics, designing enzyme inhibitors for therapeutic purposes, and studying metabolic pathways regulation.
Tips: Enter all concentrations in mol/m³. Ensure all values are positive and ES concentration is less than or equal to initial enzyme concentration. The inhibitor concentration and dissociation constant must be valid positive values.
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, increasing the apparent KM value.
Q2: How does competitive inhibition affect KM?
A: Competitive inhibition increases the apparent KM value without affecting the maximum reaction rate (Vmax).
Q3: What are typical units for these measurements?
A: Concentrations are typically measured in mol/m³ (equivalent to mmol/L), though other concentration units can be used as long as consistency is maintained.
Q4: When is this calculation particularly useful?
A: This calculation is essential in drug development, metabolic engineering, and biochemical research where understanding enzyme inhibition kinetics is critical.
Q5: What are the limitations of this approach?
A: This approach assumes ideal competitive inhibition behavior and may not accurately describe systems with mixed inhibition, allosteric effects, or cooperative binding.