ABSTRACT
For application of a biocatalyst we must know its basic properties, the substrate specificity and the kinetic characteristics. The substrate specificity is a relatively uncomplicated topic, it can be determined with simple experiments, and for the most important enzymes many data are available. Determination of the kinetic properties of an enzyme is a more complex problem. A detailed description of an enzymic catalysis requires extensive data about the structure of the whole protein molecule, the structure of
its active centre, the mechanism of the reaction, the rate constants of the individual steps of the catalytic process, the stability of the active conformation, the action of stabilizers, activators, inhibitors etc. There are many excellent books available about enzymes, their structure, mechanism, kinetics, stability etc. However, for practical application of an enzyme much less information is needed.
