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Higher specificity constant of an enzyme means:

a) Higher efficiency
b) Lower efficiency
c) Lower affinity
d) Higher affinity

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A higher specificity constant of an enzyme indicates higher efficiency due to a combination of a fast catalytic rate and a high substrate affinity.

Step-by-step explanation:

A higher specificity constant (kcat/KM) of an enzyme indicates a higher efficiency of the enzyme. Efficiency in enzymatic terms refers to how well an enzyme converts substrate into product. This specificity constant is a measure that combines two factors: the rate of the catalytic process (kcat) and the enzyme's affinity for its substrate (KM). A higher kcat/KM means the enzyme catalyzes the reaction quickly (high kcat) and has a high affinity for the substrate (low KM), therefore, the correct answer is option a) Higher efficiency.

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