Lineweaver-Burk plot is used to linearize the Michaelis-Menten equation. Which quantities are plotted?

Lineweaver-Burk plot is used to linearize the Michaelis-Menten equation. Which quantities are plotted?

• A. v versus [S]
• B. 1/v versus [S]
• C. 1/v versus 1/[S]
• D. log v versus log [S]

Answer: (C)

Linearizing the Michaelis–Menten relationship by using a double-reciprocal plot. Start from v = Vmax [S] / (Km + [S]) and take reciprocals: 1/v = (Km/Vmax)(1/[S]) + 1/Vmax. This is a straight line with 1/v on the y-axis and 1/[S] on the x-axis. The slope equals Km/Vmax, the y-intercept equals 1/Vmax, and the x-intercept equals −1/Km. This makes it easy to determine Vmax and Km from experimental data. Plotting 1/v against [S] or plotting log v versus log [S] does not produce a simple straight line for the Michaelis–Menten form, while plotting v against 1/[S] or against [S] without the reciprocal transformation keeps the relationship nonlinear.

Linearizing the Michaelis–Menten relationship by using a double-reciprocal plot. Start from v = Vmax [S] / (Km + [S]) and take reciprocals: 1/v = (Km/Vmax)(1/[S]) + 1/Vmax. This is a straight line with 1/v on the y-axis and 1/[S] on the x-axis. The slope equals Km/Vmax, the y-intercept equals 1/Vmax, and the x-intercept equals −1/Km. This makes it easy to determine Vmax and Km from experimental data. Plotting 1/v against [S] or plotting log v versus log [S] does not produce a simple straight line for the Michaelis–Menten form, while plotting v against 1/[S] or against [S] without the reciprocal transformation keeps the relationship nonlinear.