Answer to Question #1173 in Biochemistry for Sarah

Question

Both ALDH1 (in cytoplasm) and ALDH2 (in mitochondria) can covert aldehyde to acetate but with different values of Km. According to (Harada et al, 1980), at pH9.5, ALDH1 has Km of 0.1 – 0.4 mM and ALDH2 has Km of 0.01 – 0.02 mM. Which has a higher affinity, and why?

Answer 1

ALDH2 has higher affinity than ALDH1, because its Km is lower than Km(ALDH1).