Mustan sir is carrying out an enzyme reaction in the laboratory and obtains a Km and Vmax value. He repeats the expt but this time uses only 1/10th of the enzyme. What would he find?
a) He would get the same result because the enzyme is the same and hence the properties are unchanged.
b) the Vmax would change but Km would remain the same.
c) The Vmax is fixed but the Km would be 1/10th the original value.
d) There would be a long lag in the start of the reaction because the enzyme concentration is less, but finally the enzyme would achieve the same Km and Vmax given sufficient time.

Question

Mustan sir is carrying out an enzyme reaction in the laboratory and obtains a Km and Vmax value. He repeats the expt but this time uses only 1/10th of the enzyme. What would he find?
a) He would get the same result because the enzyme is the same and hence the properties are unchanged.  
b) the Vmax would change but Km would remain the same.  
c) The Vmax is fixed but the Km would be 1/10th the original value.  
d) There would be a long lag in the start of the reaction because the enzyme concentration is less, but finally the enzyme would achieve the same Km and Vmax given sufficient time.

anonymous · Answer

If he doesn't inhibit the enzyme, Vmax is fixed. also, an enzymatic reaction is characterized by the Km value, so this is fixed too. so a) is the right answer.

to research enzyme activity and Km values, you always need to do the same experiment quite a few times with different enzymatic concentrations or substrate concentrations. every experiment will give you one point on the michaelis-menten-curve, remember that. but if he got vmax at a higher concentration, he will get it at a lower concentration, too.