Florjanczyk Ursula, Ng Derek P, Andreopoulos Stavroula, Jenkinson Jodie
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 1C6, Canada.
Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2018 Sep;46(5):561-565. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21168.
The mathematical models that describe enzyme kinetics are invaluable predictive tools in numerous scientific fields. However, the daunting mathematical language used to describe kinetic behavior can be confusing for life science students; they often struggle to conceptualize and relate the mathematical representations to the molecular phenomena occurring at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. Students with less developed abstract and mathematical thinking skills may benefit from a visual learning approach. The paucity of visual resources for enzyme kinetics makes this a fertile field for developing novel learning media. We discuss developing a three-dimensional animation aimed at introducing key concepts of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics to undergraduate life science students. This animation uses both realistic and metaphoric depictions of the underlying molecular players, environments, and interactions in enzyme kinetics to contextualize and explain the relationship between the mathematical models and underlying molecular systems. The animation can be viewed at bit.ly/michaelis-menten. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(5):561-565, 2018.
描述酶动力学的数学模型在众多科学领域都是非常宝贵的预测工具。然而，用于描述动力学行为的令人生畏的数学语言可能会让生命科学专业的学生感到困惑；他们常常难以将数学表述与宏观和微观层面发生的分子现象联系起来并形成概念。抽象和数学思维能力较弱的学生可能会从视觉学习方法中受益。用于酶动力学的视觉资源匮乏，这使得它成为开发新型学习媒体的理想领域。我们讨论开发一个三维动画，旨在向本科生命科学专业学生介绍米氏酶动力学的关键概念。这个动画使用了酶动力学中潜在分子参与者、环境和相互作用的写实和隐喻描绘，以便将数学模型与潜在分子系统之间的关系置于情境中并进行解释。该动画可在bit.ly/michaelis-menten观看。© 2018国际生物化学与分子生物学联盟，46(5):561 - 565，2018。
