A Simple Classroom Teaching Technique to Help Students Understand Michaelis-Menten Kinetics

Autor/inn/en	Runge, Steven W.; Hill, Brent J. F.; Moran, William M.
Titel	A Simple Classroom Teaching Technique to Help Students Understand Michaelis-Menten Kinetics
Quelle	In: CBE - Life Sciences Education, 5 (2006) 4, S.348-352 (5 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1931-7913
DOI	10.1187/cbe.06-04-0160
Schlagwörter	Kinetics; Cytology; Biology; Biochemistry; Teaching Methods; Simulation; Instructional Effectiveness; Class Activities; Science Education; Science Instruction; College Instruction; College Science; Scientific Concepts; Hands on Science; Science Activities + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Kinetik; Zytologie; Biologie; Biochemie; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Simulation program; Simulationsprogramm; Unterrichtserfolg; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Hochschullehre
Abstract	A new, simple classroom technique helps cell biology students understand principles of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics. A student mimics the enzyme and the student's hand represents the enzyme's active site. The catalytic event is the transfer of marbles (substrate molecules) by hand from one plastic container to another. As predicted, increases in marble concentration increase the number of marbles transferred per unit time (initial rate, V[subscript 0]) until the turnover number becomes rate limiting and V[subscript 0] approaches the maximum velocity (V[subscript max]), as described by the Michaelis-Menten equation. With this demonstration, students visualize an important concept: the turnover number is constant and independent of marble concentration. A student assessment of this exercise showed that it helped students visualize the turnover number and V[subscript max] but not K[subscript m], the marble concentration at which V[subscript 0] is one-half V[subscript max]. To address the concept of K[subscript m], we use supplemental laboratory and lecture exercises. This exercise with plastic containers and marbles is equally suited to demonstrate the kinetics of carrier-mediated membrane transport. We conclude that this exercise helps students visualize the turnover number and V[subscript max] and gives students important insights into the kinetic parameters used to characterize the catalytic activity of enzymes and membrane transporters. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Society for Cell Biology. 8120 Woodmont Avenue Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20814-2762. Tel: 301-347-9300; Fax: 301-347-9310; E-mail: ascbinfo@ascb.org; Website: http://www.ascb.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10