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Modeling Enzyme Activity
Author(s) -
Hay Jordan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.687.27
Subject(s) - reductionism , context (archaeology) , systems biology , software , solanum tuberosum , computer science , chemistry , enzyme , biochemical engineering , biological system , biochemistry , computational biology , biology , botany , engineering , programming language , philosophy , paleontology , epistemology
Quantitative models provide a way for systems‐level integration of metabolism. As an alternative to extreme reductionism, model building puts together parts provided by reductionist analysis and shows how they work together. This systems biology paradigm was explored in the context of an introductory biology enzyme activity laboratory. Catecholase activity in a crude extract of potato (Solanum tuberosum) was characterized using standard spectrophotometric methods. Based on measured time courses of product accumulation, enzyme kinetic parameters were estimated using the software application COPASI (COmplex PAthway SImulator). Simulated kinetics were in reasonably good agreement with measurements. Quantitative analysis, mathematical modeling, and software application proficiency are discussed in relation to technology‐enhanced learning.