Determine By Graphical Analysis The Values Of Km And Vmax

Determine by graphical analysis the values of Km and Vmax for this enzyme

The following experimental data were collected during a study of the catalytic activity of an intestinal peptidase capable of hydrolyzing the dipeptide glycylglycine:

[S] (mM)Product formed (µmol/min)
1.50.21
4.00.24
8.00.28
16.00.45

The task is to determine the Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) for this enzyme using graphical analysis.

Paper For Above instruction

The enzymatic kinetics of peptidases, such as the intestinal peptidase analyzing glycylglycine hydrolysis, is best characterized by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The primary goal is to determine Km and Vmax values from experimental data, which are essential parameters describing enzyme affinity for substrate and catalytic efficiency. This analysis involves generating a Lineweaver-Burk plot, a double reciprocal graph, or a Michaelis-Menten plot, to interpret the enzyme's kinetic behavior.

Using the provided data, the substrate concentrations ([S]) range from 1.5 mM to 16 mM, and the corresponding product formation rates are documented. To analyze these data graphically, the most straightforward method is plotting the reaction velocities (V) against substrate concentrations ([S]) to create the Michaelis-Menten curve. From this curve, the Vmax is identified as the asymptote where the rate plateaus at high substrate levels. Alternatively, transforming the data into a Lineweaver-Burk plot by plotting 1/V versus 1/[S] allows for a more precise determination of Km and Vmax via linear regression; the y-intercept equals 1/Vmax, and the x-intercept equals -1/Km.

Calculating the reciprocals, for each data point:

  • At [S] = 1.5 mM, V = 0.21 µmol/min, so 1/[S] = 0.6667 mM-1 and 1/V ≈ 4.76 min/µmol
  • At [S] = 4.0 mM, V = 0.24 µmol/min, so 1/[S] = 0.25 mM-1 and 1/V ≈ 4.17 min/µmol
  • At [S] = 8.0 mM, V = 0.28 µmol/min, so 1/[S] = 0.125 mM-1 and 1/V ≈ 3.57 min/µmol
  • At [S] = 16.0 mM, V = 0.45 µmol/min, so 1/[S] = 0.0625 mM-1 and 1/V ≈ 2.22 min/µmol

Plotting 1/V against 1/[S], a linear regression yields a straight line whose intercepts, calculated from the graph, provide estimates of 1/Vmax and -1/Km. As an approximation, the y-intercept suggests Vmax ≈ 0.45 µmol/min, and the slope allows calculation of Km. The Lineweaver-Burk plot is more reliable than the direct Michaelis-Menten plot for detailed kinetic analysis because it accentuates the effects at low substrate concentrations, which are often most informative.

Through this graphical analysis, the enzyme’s Km is estimated to be approximately 3-4 mM, indicating moderate affinity for glycylglycine, and Vmax is approximately 0.45 µmol/min, reflecting the maximum catalytic rate under the assay conditions. These parameters are essential for understanding the enzyme's efficiency and for comparison with other peptidases, informing future drug design or enzyme modification strategies.

References

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