<P> The plot of v versus (S) above is not linear; although initially linear at low (S), it bends over to saturate at high (S). Before the modern era of nonlinear curve - fitting on computers, this nonlinearity could make it difficult to estimate K and V accurately . Therefore, several researchers developed linearisations of the Michaelis--Menten equation, such as the Lineweaver--Burk plot, the Eadie--Hofstee diagram and the Hanes--Woolf plot . All of these linear representations can be useful for visualising data, but none should be used to determine kinetic parameters, as computer software is readily available that allows for more accurate determination by nonlinear regression methods . </P> <P> The Lineweaver--Burk plot or double reciprocal plot is a common way of illustrating kinetic data . This is produced by taking the reciprocal of both sides of the Michaelis--Menten equation . As shown on the right, this is a linear form of the Michaelis--Menten equation and produces a straight line with the equation y = mx + c with a y - intercept equivalent to 1 / V and an x-intercept of the graph representing − 1 / K . </P> <Dl> <Dd> 1 v = K M V max (S) + 1 V max (\ displaystyle (\ frac (1) (v)) = (\ frac (K_ (M)) (V_ (\ max) ((\ mbox (S))))) + (\ frac (1) (V_ (\ max)))) </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> 1 v = K M V max (S) + 1 V max (\ displaystyle (\ frac (1) (v)) = (\ frac (K_ (M)) (V_ (\ max) ((\ mbox (S))))) + (\ frac (1) (V_ (\ max)))) </Dd>

A molecule that slows the activity of an enzyme