Enzymes, which are special proteins, help speed up chemical reactions in our bodies. The way they work can be understood using a key formula called the Michaelis-Menten model. Let's break it down:

1. Michaelis-Menten Equation:
   This is the formula we use:
   $V_0 = \frac{V_{max} [S]}{K_m + [S]}$
   Here’s what the letters mean:

   • $V_0$: This tells us how fast the reaction starts.
   • $V_{max}$: This is the fastest the reaction can go.
   • $K_m$: This is a special number that tells us how strong the enzyme is.
   • $[S]$: This represents how much of the substance (substrate) the enzyme is working with.

2. Enzyme Efficiency:

   • To understand how well an enzyme is doing its job, we can use a number called catalytic efficiency, represented as $k_{cat}/K_m$.
   • Usually, the $K_m$ values can be very small (like nanomoles) to much larger amounts (millimoles).

3. Types of Inhibition:
   Sometimes, things can slow down enzyme activity. There are a couple of main types:

   • Competitive Inhibition: This makes the $K_m$ number go up, but it doesn’t change the maximum speed ($V_{max}$).
   • Non-competitive Inhibition: This lowers the maximum speed ($V_{max}$), but the $K_m$ stays the same.

4. Turnover Number ($k_{cat}$):

   • This number shows how many substrate molecules one enzyme can change into product in a certain time, usually between 1 to 10,000 times per second.

In summary, understanding how enzymes work helps us learn how reactions happen in our bodies, and these concepts are key in science and health!