Inhibition constant ($K_i$, $K_i^{\prime }$)

An inhibition constant sets an inhibitor concentration scale in an enzyme kinetics model. In the rapid-binding construction under reversible enzyme inhibition, $K_i=[E]I/[EI]$ and $K_i^{\prime }=[ES]I/[ESI]$ are dissociation constants. Smaller values favour the corresponding bound population at fixed free inhibitor concentration. More generally, fitted inhibition constants need not be true binding dissociation constants; a mechanism must justify that interpretation.^[ref]

For example, choosing $I=K_i$ makes $[EI]=[E]$ in this model, but does not imply that half of all enzyme is $EI$: $ES$ and $ESI$ also contribute to the total population.