Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 22, 2007

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dihydrofolate reductase from E. coli with its two substrates

Enzyme kinetics is the study of the rates of chemical reactions that are catalysed by enzymes. Enzymes are molecules that manipulate other molecules — the enzymes' substrates. These target molecules bind to an enzyme's active site and are transformed into products through a series of steps known as the enzymatic mechanism. The study of an enzyme's kinetics provides insights into the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme, its role in metabolism, how its activity is controlled in the cell and how drugs and poisons can inhibit its activity. Knowledge of the enzyme's structure is helpful in visualizing the kinetic data. (more...)

Recently featured: George I of GreeceEngland national rugby union teamLarrys Creek