Which of the following is true about the Michaelis-Menten equation?

Prepare for the UofT BCH210H1 Biochemistry I midterm with exam-like questions. Access detailed solutions and explanations for proteins, lipids, and metabolism topics. Strengthen your understanding and excel on test day!

The Michaelis-Menten equation describes the rate of enzymatic reactions by relating reaction velocity to substrate concentration. The equation is formulated as V0 = Vmax[S] / (Km + [S]), where V0 is the initial reaction velocity, Vmax is the maximum reaction velocity, Km is the Michaelis constant, and [S] is the substrate concentration.

In this equation, Vmax represents the maximum rate of reaction that occurs when the enzyme is saturated with substrate. The Michaelis constant (Km) is a measure of how efficiently an enzyme converts a substrate into product; it provides insight into the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate. When the substrate concentration is much higher than Km, the reaction velocity approaches Vmax, indicating that the enzyme is saturated.

The correctness of this option lies in accurately representing how reaction velocity is determined by both the Vmax and the balance between Km and substrate concentration. This relationship helps to predict how changes in substrate concentration will affect the reaction rate, which is fundamental for understanding enzyme kinetics. Thus, the equation captures the essence of how enzymes operate under different substrate conditions, making this formulation critical in biochemical studies and applications.

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