Mathematical expressions describing enzyme velocity and inhibition at high enzyme concentration

Abstract

Enzyme behaviour is typically characterised in the laboratory using very diluted solutions of enzyme. However, in vivo processes usually occur at [ST] {approx} [ET] {approx} Km. Furthermore, the study of enzyme action usually involves analysis and characterisation of inhibitors and their mechanisms. However, to date, there have been no reports proposing mathematical expressions that can be used to describe enzyme activity at high enzyme concentration apart from the simplest single substrate, irreversible case. Using a continued fraction approach, equations can be easily derived to apply to the most common cases in monosubstrate reactions, such as irreversible or reversible reactions and small molecule (inhibitor or activator) kinetic interactions. These expressions are simple and can be understood as an extension of the classical Michaelis-Menten equations. A first analysis of these expressions permits to deduce some differences at high vs low enzyme concentration, such as the greater effectiveness of allosteric inhibitors compared to catalytic ones. Also, they can be used to understand catalyst saturation in a reaction. Although they can be linearised following classical approaches, these equations also show some differences that need to be taken into account. The most important one may be the different meaning of line intersection points in Dixon plots. All in all, these expressions may be useful tools for the translation in vivo of in vitro experimental data or for modelling in vivo and biotechnological processes.