Enzyme kinetics

What is enzyme kinetics?

Enzyme kinetics describes the rate of enzyme-catalysed reactions. Rate depends on substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, temperature and pH. As substrate concentration rises, rate increases until all active sites are saturated (Vmax). The Michaelis constant (Km) is the substrate concentration at half Vmax — a low Km means high enzyme affinity. A-Level Biology examines competitive inhibition (high [S] outcompetes inhibitor) and non-competitive inhibition (binds away from active site; Vmax decreases).