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Contents of Section

• 4. Enzyme reactions involving a single substrate
  • 4.1 Limiting kinetics of enzyme-catalysed reactions
  • 4.2 Michaelis-Menten kinetics
  • 4.3 Non-Michaelis-Menten kinetics
• 5. Enzyme reactions involving more than one substrate
  • 5.1 Michaelis-Menten kinetics
  • 5.2 Michaelis-Menten kinetics of a two-substrate reaction
• 6. Inhibition
  • 6.1 Reversible and irreversible inhibition
  • 6.2 Linear and non-linear inhibition
  • 6.3 Degree of inhibition
  • 6.4 Classification of inhibition types
  • 6.5 Product inhibition

4.1. Limiting Kinetics of Enzyme-Catalysed Reactions

At very low concentrations of substrate many enzyme-catalysed reactions display approximately second-order kinetics, with rate given by the following equation:

v =k [E] [A] . . . . . . . . (8)

in which the symbolk (or, in general,k for a reactant R) is the apparent second-order rate constant orspecificity constant and [E], which may also be written as [E] or [E], is the total or stoichiometric concentration of catalytic centres. (This corresponds to the total enzyme concentration only if there is a single catalytic centre per molecule.) The rationale for the subscript 0 is that the total enzyme concentration is normally the concentration at the instant of mixing, i.e. at time zero. Conversely, at very high substrate concentrations the same reactions commonly display approximately first-order kinetics (zero-order with respect to substrate):

v =k [E] . . . . . . . . (9)

in whichk, which may also be written ask is the apparent first-order rate constant. Although these limiting types of behaviour are not universally observed, they are more common thanMichaelis-Menten kinetics (Section 4.2) and provide a basis for classifying inhibitory and other effects (Section 5) independently of the need for Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

The apparent second-order rate constantsk andk of competing substrates A and B determine the partitioning between competing reactions, regardless of whether the substrate concentrations are very small or not, and it is for this reason that the namespecificity constant is proposed for this parameter of enzymic catalysis. The apparent first-order rate constantk is a measure of the catalytic potential of the enzyme and is called thecatalytic constant.

The quantityk[E] is given the symbolV and the namelimiting rate. It is particularly useful whenk cannot be calculated because the total catalytic-centre concentration is unknown, as in studies of enzymes of unknown purity, sub-unit structure and molecular mass. The symbolV and the namesmaximum rate andmaximum velocity are also in widespread use although under normal circumstances there is no finite substrate concentration at whichv =V and hence no maximum in the mathematical sense. The formV is convenient in speech as it avoids the need for a cumbersome distinction between 'capitalV' and 'lower casev'. When a true maximum does occur (as insubstrate inhibition;Section 4.3) the symbolv (notV) and the name maximum rate may be used for the true maximum value ofv but care should be taken to avoid confusion with the limiting rate.

4.2. Michaelis-Menten Kinetics

Sometimes the relationship between the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction and the substrate concentration takes the form

. . . . . . . . (10)

whereV andK are constants at a given temperature and a given enzyme concentration. The reaction is then said to displayMichaelis-Menten kinetics. (The termhyperbolic kinetics is also sometimes used because a plot ofv against [A] has the form ot a rectangular hyperbola through the origin with asymptotesv =V and [A] = -K. This term, and others that imply the use of particular kinds of plot. should be used with care to avoid ambiguity, as they can be misleading if used out of context.) The constantV is thelimiting rate, with the same meaning as inSection 4.1. The second constantK is known as theMichaelis constant for A; the alternative nameMichaelis concentration may also be used and has the advantage of emphasizing that the quantity concerned has the dimensions of a concentration and is not, in general, an equilibrium constant. When only one substrate is being considered the qualifier A may be omitted, so that the symbol becomesK. When the qualifier is included its location is a matter of typographical convenience; no particular significance attaches to such variants as orK. The Michaelis constant (or Michaelis concentration) is the substrate concentration at whichv = 0.5V, and its usual unit is mol dm, which may be written as mol L or M. The term Michaelis constant and the symbolK should not be used when Michaelis-Menten kinetics are not obeyed (seeSection 4.3).

For a reaction obeying Michaelis-Menten kinetics the rate in the limit of very low substrate concentrations isv =V[A]/K, and comparison withEqn (8) shows thatV/K =k [E]. In the limit of very high substrate concentrationsv =V, and comparison withEqn (9) givesV =k [E]. The Michaelis constantK is thereforek/k, andEqn (10) can be written as

. . . . . . . . (11)

An indefinitely large number of mechanisms generate Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and still more generate limiting behaviour of the kind described inSection 4.1. Consequently there is no general definition of any of the kinetic parametersk,k,V andK in terms of the rate constants for the elementary steps of a particular mechanism.

4.3. Non-Michaelis-Menten Kinetics

When the kinetic behaviour does not conform toEqn (10) orEqn (11) the reaction is said to exhibitnon-Michaelis-Menten kinetics. If the Michaelis-Menten equation is obeyed approximately over a restricted range of substrate concentrations it may be convenient to regard this behaviour as a deviation from this equation rather than as an unrelated phenomenon. For example, a reaction may obey an equation of the following form

. . . . . . . . (12)

in which the constantsV',K' andK are used for illustration without any implication of universal or standard definitions. IfK is large compared withKmA the behaviour predicted byEqn (12) will approximate to that predicted byEqn (11), withV andK replaced byV' andK, in the lower range of substrate concentrations. However, withEqn (12) the rate passes through a maximum as the concentration increases, and there is said to beinhibition by substrate, and the constantK, which has the dimensions of a concentration, is called thesubstrate inhibition constant.

When more complex kinds of non-Michaelis-Menten behaviour occur it is usually unhelpful to use terminology and symbolism suggestive of the Michaelis-Menten equation; instead the approach discussed inSection 10 is appropriate. In all cases it is advisable to avoid the term Michaelis constant and the symbolK when the Michaelis-Menten equation is not obeyed, because it is defined as a parameter of that equation. The symbol [A] or [A], notK, may be used for the value of [A] at whichv = 0.5V.

5. ENZYME REACTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN ONE SUBSTRATE

5.1. Michaelis-Menten Kinetics

Regardless of the number of substrates, a reaction is said to obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics if the rate equation can be expressed in the following form:

. . . . . . . . (13)

which can be regarded as a generalization ofEqn (11). (Z is used here as an example of a product as suggested inSection 2.) Each term in the denominator of the rate expression contains unity or any number of product concentrations in its numerator. and a coefficientk and any number of substrate concentrations raised to no higher than the first power in its denominator. The constantk corresponds tok inEqn (11); each other coefficient is assigned a subscript for each substrate concentration in the denominator of the term concerned and a superscript for each product concentration in the numerator. The term 1/k must be present, together with one term for each substrate of the form 1/k [A], but the terms in products of concentrations. such as those shown inEqn ( 13) with coefficientsk and, may or may not be present. It is sometimes convenient to write the equation in a form in which each k is replaced by its reciprocal, symbolized by with the same subscripts and superscripts, i.e. = l/k, = l/k, = 1/k,, etc. These reciprocal coefficients are called Dalziel coefficients.

Note The conventional Scottish pronunciation of this name may be expressed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [di:'jel], with only slightly more stress on the second syllable than the first.

Eqn (13) can be applied to reactions with any number of substrates and products and can also be extended to some kinds of inhibition by substrate, i.e. to the simpler kinds of non-Michaelis-Menten kinetics. It is thus an equation of considerable generality. It is simplest, however, to consider terminology in the context of a two-substrate reaction, and this will be done inSection 5.2.

5.2. Michaelis-Menten Kinetics of a Two-Substrate Reaction

For a two-substrate reaction in the absence of productsEqn (13) simplifies to the following equation:

. . . . . . . . (14)

If the concentration of one substrate, known as theconstant substrate, is held constant, while that of the other, known as thevariable substrate, is varied, the rate is of the form of the Michaelis-Menten equation in terms of the variable substrate, becauseEqn (14) can be rearranged to

. . . . . . . . (15)

(cf.Eqn 10), where

. . . . . . . . (16)

is known as the apparentcatalytic constant, and

. . . . . . . . (17)

is known as theapparent specificity constant for A. It follows fromEqns (16) and(17) that =k and =k when [B] is extrapolated to an infinite value. This relationship provides the basis for defining thecatalytic constant and the specificity constants in reactions with more than one substrate: in general, the catalytic constant of an enzyme is the value ofv/[E] obtained by extrapolating all substrate concentrations to infinity; for any substrate A thespecificity constant is the apparent value when all other substrate concentrations are extrapolated to infinity.

Eqn (14) may also be rearranged into a form resemblingEqn (11), as follows:

. . . . . . . . (18)

in whichV =k[E] is thelimiting rate, which may also, subject to the reservations noted insection 4.1, be called the maximum rate or maximum velocity and symbolized asVmax;KmA =k/k is the Michaelis constant for A;K =k/k is the Michaelis constant for B; andK =k/k is theinhihition constant for A. In some mechanismsK is equal to the true dissociation constant for the EA complex: when this is the case the alternative symbolK and the namesubstrate-dissociation constant for A (cf.section 3.2) may be used. IfEqn(18) is interpreted operationally rather than as the equation for a particular mechanism it is arbitrary whether the constant in the denominator is written withKK (as shown) or asKK, whereK =k/k. However, for some mechanisms only one of the two ratiosk/k andk/k has a simple mechanistic interpretation and this may dictate which inhibition constant it is appropriate to define.

The term inhibition constant and the symbolK derive from the fact that the quantity concerned is related to (and in the limiting cases equal to) the inhibition constantK orK (as defined below inSection 6.4) measured in experiments where the substrate is treated as an inhibitor of the reverse reaction. However, the relationships are not always simple and quantities such asK inEqn (18) can be and nearly always are defined and measured without any reference to inhibition experiments. For these reasons some members of the panel feel that the symbolism and terminology suggested are not completely satisfactory. No alternative system has so far gained wide support, however.

Anapparent Michaelis constant for A (and similarly for B) may be defined by dividingEqn (16) byEqn (17):

. . . . . . . . (19)

This equation provides the basis for defining the Michaelis constant for any substrate in a reaction with more than one substrate: theMichaelis constant for A,K, is the value of the apparent Michaelis constant for A when the concentrations of all substrates except A are extrapolated to infinity. This definition applies to reactions with any numbers of substrates, as also does the definition of the limiting rateV ask [E], but in other respects it becomes very cumbersome to define constants resemblingK for reactions with more than two substrates. The symbolism ofEqn (13) (or the alternative in terms of Dalziel coefficients) is readily extended to reactions with three or more substrates, however.

6. INHIBITION

6.1. Reversible and Irreversible Inhibitions

Sometimes the effect of an inhibitor can be reversed by decreasing the concentration of inhibitor (e.g. by dilution or dialysis). The inhibition is then said to bereversible. If, once inhibition has occurred, there is no reversal of inhibition on decreasing the inhibitor concentration the inhibition is said to beirreversible; irreversible inhibition is an example ofenzyme inactivation. The distinction between reversible and irreversible inhibition is not absolute and may be difficult to make if the inhibitor binds very tightly to the enzyme and is released very slowly. Reversible inhibitors that behave in a way that is difficult to distinguish from irreversible inhibition are calledtight-binding inhibitors.

6.2. Linear and Non-Linear Inhibition

Sometimes the effect of an inhibitor I can be expressed by multiplying one or more of the terms in the denominator of the general rate expression (Eqn 13) by factors of the form (1 + [I]/K). The inhibition is then said to belinear andK which has the dimensions of a concentration, is called aninhibition constant for the inhibitor I. The word linear in this definition refers to the fact that the inhibition is fully specified by terms in the denominator of the rate expression that are linear in inhibitor concentration, not to the straightness of any plots that may be used to characterize the inhibition experimentally.

If the inhibition cannot be fully expressed by means of linear factors in the denominator the inhibition is said to benon-linear.

Linear inhibition is sometimes calledcomplete inhibition, and the contrasting termpartial inhibition is sometimes used for a type of non-linear inhibition in which saturation with inhibitor does not decrease the rate to zero. These latter terms are discouraged because they can be misleading, implying, for example, that the rate may indeed be decreased to zero in 'complete inhibition' at non-saturating concentrations of inhibitor.

6.3. Degree of Inhibition

If a reaction occurs in the absence of inhibitor with ratev and in the presence of inhibitor with ratev, thedegree of inhibition is defined as

. . . . . . . . (20)

As this quantity is a ratio of rates it is dimensionless. The subscripts '0' and 'i' are useful for distinguishing between uninhibited and inhibited reactions respectively when they are required together, but are usually omitted when no confusion is likely.

6.4. Classification of Inhibition Types

Provided that an enzyme behaves in accordance with the limiting behaviour described inSection 4.1 both in the absence of inhibitor (which is always true if Michaelis-Menten kinetics are obeyed and is also true more generally), the type of inhibition may be classified according to whether it affects the apparent value ofk, the apparent value ofk, or both.

If the apparent value ofk is decreased by the inhibitor the inhibition is said to have acompetitive component, and if the inhibitor has no effect on the apparent value ofk the inhibition is said to becompetitive.. In linear inhibition there is a linear effect on1/:

. . . . . . . . (21)

and the constantK is called thecompetitive inhibition constant for I.

Conversely, if there is an effect on the apparent value ofk the inhibition has anuncompetitive component, and if the innibitor has no effect on the apparent value ofk the inhibition is said to beuncompetitive. In linear inhibition there is a linear effect on1/:

. . . . . . . . (22)

and constantK is calleduncompetitive inhibition constant for 1.

If both competitive and uncompetitive components are present in the inhibition it is said to bemixed. The termnon-competitive inhibition is sometimes used instead ofmixed inhibition, but this usage is discouraged, first because the same term is often used for the special case of mixed inhibition in whichK =K, second because it suggests that mixed inhibition is the antithesis of competitive inhibition whereas this description actually applies more accurately to uncompetitive inhibition, and third because the shorter wordmixed expresses clearly the fact that both competitive and uncompetitive components are present.

Mixed inhibition as defined here encompasses such a broad range of behaviour that it may sometimes be helpful to subdivide it further. The case in whichK <K may then be calledpredominantly competitive inhibition, the case withK =K may be calledpure non-competitive inhibition, and the case withK >K may be calledpredominantly uncompetitive inhibition. The classical term forpure non-competitive inhibition was simplynon-competitive inhibition, but this term has become ambiguous because of its widespread use for all kinds of mixed inhibition and because of this ambiguity it is discouraged for all purposes.

BothK andK have the dimensions of concentrations and may therefore be expressed in mol dm, mol L or M. In contexts where distinction betweenK andK is unnecessary or inappropriate the general symbolK may be used for either. In the past there has been no generally understood symbol for the uncompetitive inhibition constant, which has been variously represented asK,K',K, etc. A new and unambiguous symbol seems required, therefore, andK is proposed. Although the competitive inhibition constant has much more uniformly been expressed asK, the occasional use of the same symbol for the uncompetitive inhibition constant, together with the view that a logical and symmetrical symbolism is desirable, has suggested that the symbolK should be used for the competitive inhibition constant whenever any ambiguity might attend the use of the more general symbolK.

AsK andK can in principle be determined by measuring the effects of inhibitor on the slopes and ordinate intercepts respectively of plots of 1/v against 1/[A] they, have sometimes been symbolized asK (forK slope) andK (forK intercept) respectively. Slopes and intercepts are not consistent from one kind of plot to another, however; for example, the slope and intercept in a plot of [A]/v against [A] correspond, respectively, to the intercept and slope of a plot of 1/v against 1/[A]. Such symbols are therefore ambiguous and should not be used except in explicit reference to particular plots.

In reactions with more than one substrate the classification of inhibitors as competitive, uncompetitive or mixed is not absolute but depends on which substrate is variable (in the sense ofSection 5.2). For example, a particular inhibitor may cause variation in without any variation in when A is the variable substrate, but cause variation in both and when B is the variable substrate: it is then said to be acompetitive inhibitor with respect to A but amixed inhibitor with respect to B. In such systems the inhibition constantsK andK refer to the limiting behaviour for saturating concentrations of all substrates except for the variable substrate. Inhibition constants observed at non-saturating concentrations of the constant substrates areapparent values and may be symbolized as and.

For some mechanisms some inhibition constants may be true dissociation constants. Whether this is true or not it does not form part of the definitions of the inhibition types and inhibition constants given above, which are purely operational, in keeping with the policy set out inSection 1. When symbols are required for the dissociation constants of particular species they should be explicitly defined in a way that avoids confusion with the operationally defined inhibition constants. A system of the following kind may be appropriate, but if used it should be explicitly defined in context. For a binary complex, e.g. EI, the dissociation constant may be symbolized asK with the name of the complex as subscript, e.g.K For higher complexes where the nature of the dissociation needs to be specified, a full stop (period) may be used to separate the parts of the complex that dissociate from one another; for example,K may be used for the dissociation of EIS into EI + S, whereasK may be used for the dissociation of the same complex into ES + I.

6.5. Product Inhibition

The products of nearly all enzyme-catalyzed reactions behave as inhibitors when they are present in the reaction mixture. When considered in this light they are calledproduct inhibitors and the phenomenon is known asproduct inhibition. Product inhibition is always reversible (at least in principle) but in other respects occurs in the same varieties as other kinds of inhibition and requires no special discussion or definitions.

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