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Multiple Choice
Which step in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction was assumed to be negligible by Michaelis and Menten in their original model?
A
The dissociation of the enzyme-substrate complex back to enzyme and substrate ($ES \rightarrow E + S$)
B
The formation of the enzyme-substrate complex ($E + S \rightarrow ES$)
C
The binding of the enzyme to the product ($E + P \rightarrow EP$)
D
The reverse reaction from product back to enzyme-substrate complex ($P \rightarrow ES$)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the Michaelis-Menten model, which describes the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. This model assumes a steady-state condition where the concentration of the enzyme-substrate complex remains constant over time.
Step 2: Recall that the Michaelis-Menten model simplifies the reaction mechanism by focusing on the formation and breakdown of the enzyme-substrate complex ($E + S \rightarrow ES \rightarrow E + P$). It assumes certain steps are negligible to simplify the mathematical derivation.
Step 3: Analyze the reaction steps provided in the problem. The reverse reaction from product back to enzyme-substrate complex ($P \rightarrow ES$) is assumed negligible in the original Michaelis-Menten model. This assumption allows the model to focus on the forward reaction leading to product formation.
Step 4: Understand why this assumption is made. The reverse reaction ($P \rightarrow ES$) is typically negligible because once the product is formed, it is unlikely to revert back to the enzyme-substrate complex under normal physiological conditions.
Step 5: Conclude that the Michaelis-Menten model simplifies enzyme kinetics by neglecting the reverse reaction from product back to enzyme-substrate complex ($P \rightarrow ES$), enabling a focus on the steady-state approximation and the forward reaction dynamics.