Words of advice: teaching enzyme kinetics

Abstract

Enzymology is concerned with the study of enzyme structure, function, regulation and kinetics. It is an interdisciplinary subject that can be treated as an exclusive sphere of exhaustive inquiry within mathematical, physico-chemical and biological sciences. Hence, teaching of enzymology, in general, and enzyme kinetics, in particular, should be undertaken in an interdisciplinary manner for a holistic appreciation of this subject. Further, analogous examples from everyday life should form an integral component of the teaching for an intuitive grasp of the subject matter. Furthermore, simulation-based appreciation of enzyme kinetics should be preferred over simplifying assumptions and approximations of traditional enzyme kinetics teaching. In this Words of Advice, I outline the domain depth of enzymology across the various disciplines and provide initial ideas on how appropriate analogies can provide firm insights into the subject. Further, I demonstrate how an intuitive feel for the subject can help not only in grasping abstract concepts but also extending it in experimental design and subsequent interpretation. Use of simulations in grasping complex concepts is also advocated given the advantages this medium offers over traditional approaches involving images and molecular models. Furthermore, I discuss the merits of incorporating the historical backdrop of major discoveries in enzymological teaching. We, at AstraZeneca, have experimented with this approach with the desired outcome of generating interest in the subject from people practising diverse disciplines.

Keywords: association rate constant; dissociation rate constant; enzyme kinetics; equilibrium constant; force fields; inhibition models; rate equations; teaching; transition state.