Biology – Factors that affect enzyme action | e-Consult
Factors that affect enzyme action (1 questions)
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Enzyme A is more efficient than Enzyme B.
Justification:
- Km and Affinity: Enzyme A has a lower Km (2.5 µM) compared to Enzyme B (8.0 µM). This indicates that Enzyme A has a higher affinity for its substrate; it achieves half-maximal velocity at a lower substrate concentration.
- Vmax and Catalytic Rate: Enzyme A has a higher Vmax (150 units/µM) compared to Enzyme B (120 units/µM). This indicates that Enzyme A can process a greater amount of substrate and has a higher catalytic rate.
- Efficiency: Enzyme A is more efficient because it combines high affinity (low Km) and high catalytic rate (high Vmax). This means it can effectively catalyze the reaction even at lower substrate concentrations, leading to a faster overall reaction rate. Enzyme B requires a higher substrate concentration to reach half-maximal velocity and has a lower maximum rate, making it less efficient than Enzyme A. A lower Km and higher Vmax generally correlate with greater enzyme efficiency.