The cleavage of the ester p-nitrophenylacetate (shown below) by chymotrypsin occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the product p-nitrophenolate is released in a burst, in amounts equivalent to the amount of active enzyme present. In the second stage, p-nitrophenolate is generated at a steady but much reduced rate. Explain this phenomenon in terms of the catalytic mechanism presented in Figure 11-29.

Transcribed Image Text:

NO2 CH3 CO p-Nitrophenylacetate