Skip to main content
. 2010 Jan 31;38(7):e102. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq014

Table 1.

Parameters used in the analysis

Parameter Unit Description Relation to other parameters
L (nt) Track length (nt = nucleotide unit)
b (nt) Binding site size
C (nt−1) Mechanochemical coupling ratio ([NTP hydrolyzed]/ [enzyme]/nt traveled) C = ka/ktrans = c/m
ka (s−1) Steady-state NTP hydrolysis rate during translocation ([NTP hydrolyzed]/ [enzyme]/s) ka = Cktrans = c(kt + kd); (kt + kd = net rate constant of kinetic step)
ktrans (nt s−1) Macroscopic rate of translocation ktrans = ka/C = m(kt + kd)
c – Coupling stoichiometry ([NTP hydrolyzed]/ [enzyme]/kinetic step) c = mka/ktrans = Cm
m (nt) Kinetic step size (nt traveled/kinetic step) m = cktrans/ka = c/C
P – Kinetic processivity (probability of taking the next kinetic step) P = kt/(kt + kd)
Pmacr – Macroscopic processivity, suitable for calculation of: Mean number of NTP molecules consumed in a single run (at infinite track length) = Pmacr/(1–Pmacr) Mean number of nucleotides travelled in a single run (at infinite track length) = Pmacr/(1–Pmacr)/C Inline graphic [see also Equation (10)]