Metabolism Basics
What is metabolism?
All of the chemical reactions within each cell of an organism.
What is activation energy?
The amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction.
What is an enzyme?
A protein that speeds up biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy.
Higher temperature increases rate (to a point) by causing more collisions.
What is ATP?
(Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) The main energy-carrying molecule fort cell functions.
What is a reactant (substrate)?
A substance that is changed during a chemical reaction.
What happens when bonds are broken?
Energy is absorbed.
What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up reactions without being permanently changed.
How does pH affect enzymes?
Enzymes work best in a specific pH range; outside that, they can denature enzymes.
What is the purpose of ATP?
It carries energy in a usable form for the cell wherever needed.
What is a product?
A substance that is made during a chemical reaction.
What happens when bonds are formed?
Energy is released.
What is an active site?
The location on an enzyme where the substrate binds.
How does substrate concentration affect reaction rate?
Higher substrate concentration increase the rate until enzyme saturation.
Name the three main parts of an ATP molecule.
Adenine, Ribose, and three phosphate groups.
What is an anabolic reaction?
What type of reaction absorbs more energy than it releases?
Endothermic reaction.
What is denaturation?
When an enzyme's active site loses its specific shape, causing loos of function.
What do catalysts do to activation energy?
They lower it.
What is ADP?
Adenosine diphosphate - ATP after it loses one phosphate.
What is a catabolic reaction?
A reaction that breaks larger molecules into simpler compounds.
What type of reaction releases more energy than it absorbs?
Exothermic Reaction.
What do enzymes do in photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
They control metabolic reactions by speeding them up.
What do competitive inhibitors do?
They slow reactions by competing for the enzyme's active site.
Why is ATP considered unstable?
The bond between the 2nd and 3rd phosphate is easy to break, releasing energy.