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Breaking Bonds versus Chopping Heads: The Enzyme as Butcher

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Todd P. Silverstein

Willamette University, Salem, OR 97301

J. Chem. Educ., 1995, 72 (7), p 645

DOI: 10.1021/ed072p645

Publication Date: July 1995

Abstract

Enzyme catalysis is a core topic in any introductory biochemistry course. It is sometimes difficult for students to relate kinetic parameters from the Michaelis-Menten treatment to the actual behavior of the enzyme-substrate complex. Intricate aspects of enzyme activity such as allosteric regulation and cooperativity are even harder to assimilate. Likening an enzyme to an old-fashioned butcher (or fowl slaughterer) helps students visualize many of these abstract concepts and invariably makes them smile as well!

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Biochemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Applications and Analogies

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Analogies / Transfer

Keywords (Subject):

Catalysis

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

The Nuts and Bolts of Michaelis−Menten Enzyme Kinetics: Suggestions and Clarifications
Todd Silverstein
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (2), 167-168
- The Nuts and Bolts of Michaelis−Menten Enzyme Kinetics: Suggestions and Clarifications
  Todd Silverstein
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (2), 167-168
  Matthew Junker’s recent article describes a useful and effective enzyme kinetics application and analogy in which students simulate enzyme activity by unscrewing nut−bolt “substrate molecules”, thus, converting them into separate nuts and bolts “products”...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Weak vs Strong Acids and Bases: The Football Analogy
Todd P. Silverstein
Journal of Chemical Education2000 77 (7), 849
- Weak vs Strong Acids and Bases: The Football Analogy
  Todd P. Silverstein
  Journal of Chemical Education2000 77 (7), 849
  An important topic in any introductory chemistry course is that of acids and bases. Students generally have no trouble learning the Brønsted-Lowry definition of an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. Problems often arise, however, when ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links