Page 195 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

Km is extremely Since this value is unique to
important in each enzyme, you can measure it
checking the
to determine how that enzyme
properties of works relative to the substrate.
an enzyme.
This is called the enzyme’s
affinity for its substrate.

the higher the If the Km value is small, that
affinity, The means that the reaction rate
smaller the reaches half its maximum at a
value of Km. lower substrate concentration,
which shows us that the enzyme is
Km value of
enzyme A doing its job efficiently.

Enzyme A with high affinity

Reaction rate (V) Enzyme B with low affinity

I see...it makes sense Km value of enzyme B
when we compare
Substrate
the line for enzyme A concentration (S)
with the line for B! That’s right, since
enzyme A has a
The reaction higher affinity.
speed for A rises
way faster than B. Enzymes Are the Keys to Chemical Reactions 181