Estimating enzyme kinetic parameters: a computer program for linear regression and non-parametric analysis.

An IBM computer program, WILMAN4, is described which calculates the estimates, Km, V and Km/V from initial velocity measurements according to one of four statistical methods. Three of these methods involve linear regression analysis using weights given by assuming: (i) constant absolute error (G.N. Wilkinson, 1961, Biochem J., 80, 324-332), (ii) constant relative error (G. Johansen and R. Lumry, 1961, C.R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg, 32, 185-214) and (iii) an error function in between the above two cases. (A. Cornish-Bowden, 1976, Principles of Enzyme Kinetics, Butterworths Inc, Boston, Mass., pp. 168-193). The fourth method is a non-parametric procedure derived by Eisenthal and Cornish-Bowden (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 532 (1974) 268-272). Residuals are obtained by subtracting the experimental and the calculated velocities. Outliers, or residuals which are greater than two experimental standard deviations, can be identified and removed from the data set. If the sequence of positive and negative signs of the residuals is random as determined by a statistical probability calculation, the data set is assumed to obey the Michaelis-Menten equation.