Medical Definition of Michaelis constant
1.
The true dissociation constant for the enzyme-substrate binary complex in a single-substrate rapid equilibrium enzyme-catalyzed reaction (usually symbolised by Ks), the concentration of the substrate at which half the true maximum velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is achieved (when velocities are measured under initial rate and steady state conditions).
The ratio of rate constants (k2 + k3)/k1 in the single-substrate enzyme-catalyzed reaction: E + S &dblarr; ES &dblarr; E + products where E represents the free enzyme, S is the substrate, and ES is the central binary complex. The expression for the Michaelis constant will be more complex for multisubstrate reactions.
An apparent Michaelis constant is a constant determined either under conditions that are not strictly steady state and initial rate or one that varies with the concentration of one or more cosubstrates.
See: Michaelis-Menten equation.
Synonym: Michaelis-Menten constant.
(05 Mar 2000)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Michaelis Constant
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