Turnover number
Turnover Number
The Turnover Number (pronounced: /ˈtərnˌōvər ˈnəmbər/) is a significant term in the field of Enzymology and Catalysis. It is a measure of the number of molecules of substrate that an enzyme can convert into product per unit time when the enzyme is fully saturated with substrate.
Etymology
The term "Turnover Number" is derived from the concept of "turning over" a substrate into a product. It was first used in the context of enzymology in the early 20th century.
Definition
The Turnover Number, often denoted as kcat, is defined as the maximum number of chemical conversions of substrate molecules per second that a single catalytic site will execute for a given enzyme molecule under saturating conditions. It is a kinetic parameter that provides insight into the catalytic efficiency and capacity of an enzyme.
Related Terms
- Enzyme Kinetics: The study of the rates at which enzymes catalyze reactions.
- Michaelis-Menten Kinetics: A model for the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, which includes the concept of the turnover number.
- Catalytic Efficiency: A measure of the efficiency of an enzyme in catalyzing a specific reaction, often calculated as the ratio of kcat to the Michaelis constant, KM.
- Substrate (chemistry): The molecule upon which an enzyme acts.
- Product (chemistry): The molecule that is produced by the action of an enzyme on a substrate.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Turnover number
- Wikipedia's article - Turnover number
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