Question

Michaelis and Menten studied the enzyme sucrase, which uses sucrose as a substrate. Assume that lactose is a competitive inhibitor of sucrase. This could be demonstrated by appropriate kinetic experiments. Think about the kind of data that would be collected in these experiments.On the axes below, show appropriate double-reciprocal plots that would demonstrate that lactose is a competitive inhibitor. Label the axes, and any intercepts with X and Y axes appropriately.The graph can be used to determine whether or Vmax has changed in the presence of lactose. State what it about the graph that allows this, and whether Vmax has changed in the presence of lactose.

Answer 1

In the context, Menten and Michaelis were doing a research. They are studying about the enzyme sucrase that can use sucrose like a substrate.

The intercept on the y-axis gives the value of the Vmax.

As the intercept is same for both the plots, Vmax does not change upon the competitive inhibitor of sucrase.

The graph plotted is provided below.