Michaelis constant (Km)

The Michaelis constant (Km) is a measure used in biochemistry to describe how effectively an enzyme binds to its substrate (the molecule it acts upon). It represents the substrate concentration at which the enzyme works at half its maximum speed. A low Km indicates the enzyme binds tightly to the substrate and is efficient even at low concentrations, while a high Km suggests weaker binding, requiring more substrate to reach half-maximal activity. Essentially, Km helps us understand the enzyme's affinity for its substrate and its efficiency in catalysis.