Metabolism
Breaking down glucose into ATP is an example of this type of metabolic reaction.
Catabolic
Energy of motion, such as muscle contraction, is this type of energy.
Kinetic Energy
These biological catalysts speed up reactions without being consumed.
What are enzymes?
These inorganic helpers (like Fe, Zn, Cu) are required by many enzymes.
Cofactors
This type of inhibitor directly competes with the substrate for the active site.
Competitive Inhibitor
Building a protein from amino acids is an example of this type of metabolic reaction.
Anabolic
Energy stored in a glucose molecule is this type of energy.
Potential Energy
Enzymes lower this type of barrier but do not change ∆G.
What is activation energy (Ea)?
Organic molecules such as NADH or ATP that assist enzymes are called this.
Coenzymes
This type of inhibitor binds elsewhere on the enzyme, changing its shape.
Non competitive Inhibitor
A patient with uncontrolled catabolism is losing muscle mass. Which form of energy is primarily released?
Chemical potential energy in bonds (converted to ATP)
A reaction has ∆G < 0. Energy is released. What type of reaction is this?
Exergonic Reaction
If an enzyme is missing, a reaction with negative ∆G still cannot proceed quickly. Why not?
Because ∆G determines spontaneity, but enzymes control rate (kinetics).
A patient with iron-deficiency anemia cannot form hemoglobin’s heme group. This is an example of what enzyme helper?
Prosthetic group
A patient overdoses on methanol. Doctors give ethanol, which occupies the enzyme instead. This is an example of what kind of inhibition?
Competitive Inhibition
True or False: Metabolism is only the sum of anabolic reactions.
False (It includes both anabolic and catabolic.)
A nurse explains: “The energy from breaking ATP drives muscle contraction.” This is an example of what principle?
Energy Coupling
The “lock-and-key” model is outdated. Which model better explains enzyme flexibility?
Induced fit model
True or False: Coenzymes are always proteins.
False. They are carbon-based molecules, not proteins.
True or False: Inhibitors permanently destroy the enzyme’s structure
False (Most inhibitors are reversible.)
If catabolism is blocked, which major cellular process (hint: ATP production) is most directly impaired?
Cellular Respiration
A patient has a metabolic block that prevents ∆G from going negative. Which class of reactions is disabled?
Exergonic Reactions
True or False: Enzymes change both the rate and the thermodynamics of a reaction.
False. They only change the rate, not ∆G
Without vitamin B deficiencies corrected, which class of enzyme helpers will fail first?
Coenzymes (derived from vitamins)
A novel drug binds to an enzyme’s allosteric site, shutting down product formation. Which type of inhibition is this?
Noncompetitive Inhibition