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Michaelis-Menton Kinetics Theory

The collaboration of Michaelis and Menton broke the first ground on enzyme kinetics. This was especially honored because it was the first advance into how catalysts - either biological or otherwise - could be studied. Can you find Michaelis on the Nobel list? Quickly their work was followed by a separate collaboration of Lineweaver and Burk, who minimized the imprecision of studying curved lines on graphs to the exactitude of straight lines. (The following is a rather streamlined version of the whole reasoning, as a study of it in great detail is usually subject of a more advanced semester of biochemistry.)

But before you dive into the intangible mathematics and founder in new terms that are yet beyond the conception of all but Einsteins, read this link, which will give you a tangible and familiar Supermarket Model. As is so frequent in these matters, easily conceived examples from everyday life are available.

Now to the Lab! Initial Kinetics Plots
As shown to the right, the increase in yellow is followed over time. As the substrate is depleted, the reaction rate slows. But initially, the points are quite linear. Thus the "initial velocity," V_o, can be determined.
Michaelis-Menton Plots
If the initial substrate concentrations are varied from one V_o determination to another, and then these many V_o's are plotted versus substrate concentration, we get what is called a Michaelis-Menton Plot.

or more
specifically
with regard
to lactase
Lineweaver-Burk Plots

In a few days we shall be doing an experiment with lactose degradation in which we shall reveal what are inhibitors to the reactions and, using Lineweaver-Burk plots, the mechanics of how these inhibitors do their deleterious work.