Michaelis–Menten Equation

This article describes various approaches to the analysis of quantitative responses assumed to follow a hyperbolic dose–response relationship (the Michaelis–Menten equation) characterized by the values of two parameters: the Michaelis constant (the dose at half-maximal response) and the asymptotic maximum response. Methods include diagnostic graphical representations, including the double reciprocal or Lineweaver–Burk plot, the Hanes plot and the Eadie–Hofstee plot. Curve-fitting and parameter estimation is described using either least squares or maximum likelihood. The latter includes using a generalized linear model incorporating a reciprocal link function and the possibility of nonnormally distributed errors. Robust and distribution-free estimation procedures, such Theil's method (known as the direct linear plot in biochemistry) are also covered. Keywords: Michaelis–Menten equation; hyperbolic dose–response curves; Lineweaver–Burk plot; generalized linear model; reciprocal link function; robust estimation distribution-free curve fitting; direct linear plot