Does the Reaction Stop When All Substrates Are Used?

Once all of the substrate is bound, the reaction will no longer speed up, since there will be nothing for additional enzymes to bind to.

Does the substrate change in the reaction?

1: Induced Fit: According to the induced fit model, both enzyme and substrate undergo dynamic conformational changes upon binding. The enzyme contorts the substrate into its transition state, thereby increasing the rate of the reaction.

What happens when there are too many substrates?

In an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, the substrate binds to the enzyme to form an enzyme-substrate complex. If more substrate is present than enzyme, all of the enzyme binding sites will have substrate bound, and further increases in substrate concentration cannot increase the rate.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.