Action of lipolytical enzymes in biphasic organic‐aqueous systems: Dynamics of the irreversible Michaelis–Menten reaction

Through simple model analysis, the mass action kinetic model for lipolytic enzymes in biphasic aqueous‐organic systems can be simplified using the quasi–steady state assumption (or the quasi–equilibrium state assumption) for the adsorbed enzyme E* or the enzyme–substrate complex E*S. Some parameter combinations leading to the above assumptions are derived confirmed by full numerical integration of the whole enzymatic process. The results may be classified into three categories: (1) the quasi–equilibrium state assumption for E*, (2) the quasi–steady state assumption for E*, and (3) the quasi–steady state assumption for E*S. Further simplification for both E* and E*S is also discussed. © 1993 Wiley & Sons, Inc.