A nomenclature is proposed to facilitate discussion of possible mechanisms for enzyme-catalyzed reactions with more than one substrate or product. A shorthand notation for writing down such mechanisms is also described.
A general method for expressing the full steady-state rate equations for these mechanisms in terms of measurable kinetic constants is explained, and the resulting rate equations are given for a number of mechanisms with two or three substrates or products. The manner in which kinetic studies can be used to determine enzymic mechanisms is discussed, and examples are given to illustrate the types of information about reaction mechanisms that can be obtained.