Dynamic disorder in quasi-equilibrium enzymatic systems

PLoS One. 2010 Aug 24;5(8):e12364. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012364.

Abstract

Conformations and catalytic rates of enzymes fluctuate over a wide range of timescales. Despite these fluctuations, there exist some limiting cases in which the enzymatic catalytic rate follows the macroscopic rate equation such as the Michaelis-Menten law. In this paper we investigate the applicability of macroscopic rate laws for fluctuating enzyme systems in which catalytic transitions are slower than ligand binding-dissociation reactions. In this quasi-equilibrium limit, for an arbitrary reaction scheme we show that the catalytic rate has the same dependence on ligand concentrations as obtained from mass-action kinetics even in the presence of slow conformational fluctuations. These results indicate that the timescale of conformational dynamics--no matter how slow--will not affect the enzymatic rate in quasi-equilibrium limit. Our numerical results for two enzyme-catalyzed reaction schemes involving multiple substrates and inhibitors further support our general theory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Biocatalysis
  • Coenzymes / chemistry
  • Coenzymes / metabolism
  • Enzymes / chemistry*
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Chemical*

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Enzymes