Turnover number (kcat)

Turnover number, often denoted as \( k_{cat} \), is a measure used in biochemistry to describe the efficiency of an enzyme. It represents the maximum number of substrate molecules an enzyme can convert into product in one second, when the enzyme is fully saturated with substrate. Think of it as the speed at which an enzyme works; a higher \( k_{cat} \) value indicates a faster enzyme. This concept helps scientists understand how well enzymes perform their jobs in biological processes, which is crucial for fields like medicine and biotechnology.