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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: Omggg on January 26, 2012, 08:56:18 PM

Title: fastest enzyme?
Post by: Omggg on January 26, 2012, 08:56:18 PM

What is the fastest enzyme?
Catalyase or Carbonic Anhydrase?

our prof believes that though these enzymes are diffusion limited enzymes and so are pretty fast at doing their job, There is no such thing as a fastest enzyme..

Is that true? aren't these two considered to be some of the fastest enzymes?

Title: Re: fastest enzyme?
Post by: Honclbrif on January 27, 2012, 02:36:32 AM

If the enzymes in question are diffusion limited the argument becomes moot. You might be able to make computational arguments about which mechanism is fastest ignoring diffusion, but on the practical level they would be the same.

Title: Re: fastest enzyme?
Post by: Yggdrasil on January 28, 2012, 01:07:40 AM

The speed limit for enzyme catalysis is the diffusion limit.  Once you get a diffusion limited enzyme, it can't really get any faster than that.

Title: Re: fastest enzyme?
Post by: Omggg on January 28, 2012, 04:16:06 PM

well,

which one is fastest?

Catalyase or Carbonic Anhydrase?

Both are diffusion limited, but I think turnover rate for Carbonic Anhydrase is higher.. so is that the faster one?