Abstract
Summary Bound and solubilized ATPase from Escherichia coli show similar kinetic properties. The saturation curves for MgATP are hyperbolic with both preparations. The straight lines in the Line-weaver–Burk plot indicate that MgATP is the true substrate, that one molecule MgATP is bound per enzyme molecule, and that there is no cooperativity. Presence of EDTA leads to sigmoidal saturation curves. This effect could be reversed by adding MgCl2 stoichiometrically to EDTA. Different results in other publications, especially in that ofCarreira andMuñoz can be explained as being primarily the consequence of complexing agent contaminations in the assay.