Math

QuestionFind the horizontal asymptote of the Michaelis-Menten equation for chymotrypsin: v=0.17[S]0.021+[S]v=\frac{0.17[S]}{0.021+[S]}. What does it indicate?

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

Assumptions1. The Michaelis-Menten equation is given as v=0.17[S]0.021+[]v=\frac{0.17[S]}{0.021+[]} . We need to find the horizontal asymptote of the graph of vv
3. The horizontal asymptote of a function is the value that the function approaches as the input (or xx-value) approaches infinity

STEP 2

The general form of the Michaelis-Menten equation is v=Vmax[]Km+[]v=\frac{V_{max}[]}{K_m+[]}, where VmaxV_{max} is the maximum rate achieved by the system, at maximum (saturating) substrate concentrations, and KmK_m is the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half of VmaxV_{max}.
In our case, VmaxV_{max} is0.17 and KmK_m is0.021.

STEP 3

To find the horizontal asymptote, we consider what happens to vv as [][] approaches infinity.
lim[]0.17[S]0.021+[]\lim{{[]} \to \infty} \frac{0.17[S]}{0.021+[]}

STEP 4

As [][] approaches infinity, the term 0.021+[]0.021+[] also approaches infinity. Therefore, we can simplify the limit as followslim[]0.170.021/[]+1\lim{{[]} \to \infty} \frac{0.17}{0.021/[]+1}

STEP 5

As [][] approaches infinity, the term 0.021/[]0.021/[] approaches0. Therefore, the limit simplifies tolim[]0.170+1=0.17\lim{{[]} \to \infty} \frac{0.17}{0+1} =0.17Therefore, the horizontal asymptote of the graph of vv is 0.170.17.

STEP 6

The significance of the horizontal asymptote in this context is that it represents the maximum rate of the enzymatic reaction. As the concentration of the substrate $$ increases, the reaction rate $v$ will approach this maximum rate. This is because the enzyme becomes saturated with the substrate, and additional increases in substrate concentration cannot increase the reaction rate.

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