How is enzyme kinetics typically determined?

Enzyme kinetics is fundamentally about understanding how the rate of an enzymatic reaction correlates with various factors, particularly substrate concentration. The relationship between substrate concentration and reaction rate is usually represented by the Michaelis-Menten equation. This framework allows one to determine critical kinetic parameters, such as Vmax (the maximum reaction rate) and Km (the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half of Vmax).

This relationship illustrates how enzymes behave under different conditions and how efficiently they convert substrates into products. By systematically varying substrate concentrations and measuring the resultant reaction rates, researchers can plot a curve that characterizes enzyme activity. This analysis is essential for understanding enzyme efficiency and regulation, making it a cornerstone of biochemistry and enzyme studies.