[A stoichiometric interpretation of the significance of the Hill coefficient of some kinetically cooperative enzymes. Application to alpha-glucosidases of the hemolymph of bees].

In an enzyme complex where active subunits are aggregated in functional groups undergoing steric interactions, the Hill coefficient can reflect the ratio of the partial reaction order of the substrate upon the enzyme one, according to the mass action law. Honeybee haemolymph alpha-glucosidases kinetics support this theory in negative and positive cooperativity cases.