What Are the Consequences of Not Measuring the Initial Velocity of an Enzyme Reaction?
• The reaction is non-linear with respect to enzyme concentration. • There is an unknown concentration of substrate. • There is a greater possibility of saturation of the detection system. • The steady state or rapid equilibrium kinetic treatment is invalid. Measuring the rate of an enzyme reaction when 10% or less of the substrate has been depleted is the first requirement for steady state conditions. At low substrate depletion (i.e. initial velocity conditions) the factors listed below that contribute to non-linear progression curves for enzyme reactions, do not have a chance to influence the reaction.
