Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Intro. to cell and molec. bio
Chapter 6
48
Biology
Undergraduate 1
01/28/2007

Additional Biology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Metabolism
Definition
The collection of chemical reactions that occur in an organism.
Term
Catabolic Pathways
Definition
Release energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds. (degradative process)
Term
What kind of metabolic pathway is cellular respiration?
Definition
Catablosim, the sugar glucose and other organic fuels are broken down to carbon dioxide and water.
Term
Anabolic pathways
Definition
Consume energy to build complicated molecules from simpler ones.
Term
Bioenergetics
Definition
the study of how organisms manage their energy resources.
Term
Energy
Definition
The capacity to do work; to move matter against opposing forces, such as gravity and friction.
Term
Kinetic Energy
Definition
Energy of motion; anything that moves.
Term
Potential Energy
Definition
Stored energy; energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure.
Term
Chemical Energy
Definition
a form of potential energy; it is stored in molecules as a result of the arrangement of the atoms in those molecules.
Term
What do organisms transform?
Definition
Energy
Term
Thermodynamics
Definition
The study of the energy transformations that occur in a collection of matter.
Term
First Law of Thermodynamics
Definition
(energy of the universe is constant) Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. This law is also known as the PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION of ENERGY.
Term
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Definition
Every energy transfer or transformation INCREASES the entropy of the universe.
Term
Entropy
Definition
a measure of disorder; randomness
Term
Spontaneous process
Definition
a change that can occur with outside help, it can occur on its own....When a spontaneous process occurs in a system, the stability of that system INCREASES.
Term
Free Energy
Definition
the portion of a system's energy that can perform work when temperature is uniformed.
Term
In a Spontaneous Change:
Definition
The free energy of the system DECREASES (change in G<0); the system becomes MORE STABLE; the released free energy can be harnessed to do work.
Term
What are teh two components related to Free energy (G)?
Definition
G = H - TS ; H(system's total energy), S(entropy), T(temperature in Kelvin K=C + 273)
Term
Concept of free energy
Definition
Free energy can be viewed as a measure of a system's instability; its tendency to change to a more stable state.
Term
Systems that tend to change sponatneously to a more stable state have:
Definition
high energy, low entropy, or both.
Term
Versatile criterion for spontaneous change:
Definition
IN ANY SPONTANEOUS PROCESS, THE FREE ENERGY OF A SYSTEM DECREASES.
Term
Equilibrium
Definition
a state of maximum stability; Change in G=0
Term
Exergonic reaction
Definition
net release of free energy; (-) free energy; exergonic rxns are those that occur spontaneously
Term
Endergonic Reaction
Definition
absorbs free energy from its surroundings..becuase it stores free energy, it is (+). these rxns are NONspontaneous
Term
what happens to reactions in a closed system?
Definition
it eventually reaches equilibrium adn can do no work; a cell that reaches metabolic equilibrium is dead...
Term
Metabolic Disequiilibrium
Definition
A cell can maintain disequilibrium because it is an open system so it has a constant flow of materials in and out of the cell.
Term
What does ATP do?
Definition
It powers cellular work by coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic reactions.
Term
what are the products of ATP in hydrolysis?
Definition
ADP and Pi (inorganic phosphate)..PHOSPHORYLATED, the recipient of the phospahte group.
Term
How is ATP regenerated?
Definition
Catabolic pathways drive the regeneration of ATP from ADP and phosphate.
Term
Catalyst
Definition
a chemical agent that changes the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction.
Term
Enzymes
Definition
a catalytic protein; enzymes speed up metabolic reactions by lowering energy barriers.
Term
Free Energy of Activation (ACTIVATION ENERGY)
Definition
the energy required to break bonds in the reactant molecules. We can think of activation energy as the amount of energy need to push the reactants over an energy barrier, or hill, so that the "downhill" part of the reaction can begin.
Term
Enzymes and Activation Energy
Definition
Heat speeds a reaction; but high temperature denatures proteins and kills cells. Organisms must therefore use an alternative: a CATALYST.
Term
What does an enzyme do to a reaction?
Definition
It speeds a reaction by lowering the EA(activation barrier) so that the precipice of the transition state is within reach even at moderate temperatures.
Term
Substrate
Definition
The reactant an enzyme acts on. Enzymes are substrate specific. The enzyme binds to its substrate (or substrates, when there are 2 or more reactants). When enzyme and substrate are joined, the catalytic action of the enzyme converts the substrate to the product of the reaction.
Term
Active site
Definition
the restricted region of the enzyme molecule that actually binds to the substrate. IT is typically a pocket or groove on the surface of the protein.
Term
Induced Fit
Definition
The change in shape of the active site of an enzyme so that it binds more snugly to the substrate, induced by entry of the substrate.
Term
what are two environmental factors that are important in the activity of an enzyme?
Definition
Temperature and pH.
Term
What are the optimal temperatures for enzymes, at which its reaction rate is fastest.
Definition
In human enzymes, it is 35-40 degrees celsius (close to human body temp.) In bacteria that live in hot springs, it is about 70 degrees Celsius or higher.
Term
what are the optimal pH values for enzymes?
Definition
for most, its is 6-8
Term
Cofactor
Definition
Any nonprotein molecule or ion that is required for the proper functioning of an enzyme. Cofactors can be permanently bound to the active site or may bind loosely with the substrate during catalysis; many cofactors are inorganic.
Term
Coenzyme
Definition
when the cofactor is an organic molecule. Most vitamins are coenzymes. Cofactors funtion so that catalysis can take place.
Term
Competitive Inhibitors
Definition
Reversible(binds by weak bonds) inhibitors that mimcs the normal substrate and competes for admission into the active site. It reduces the productivity of enzymes by blocking substrates from the active sites. This inhibition can be overcome by INCREASING the concentration of substrate.
Term
Noncompetitive inhibitors
Definition
Impede enzymatic reactions by binding to another part of the enzyme, which causes the enzyme molecule to change its shape/conformation, making the active site unreceptive to substrate, or leaves the enzyme to be less effective at catalyzing.
Term
Allosteric site
Definition
a specific receptor site on some part of an enzyme molecule remote from the active site.
Term
Feedback Inhibition
Definition
a method of metabolic control in which the end product of a metabolic pathway acts as an inhibitor of any enzyme within that pathway. (feedback inhibition prevents the cell from wasting chemical resources to synthesize more than is necessary)
Term
Cooperativity
Definition
An interaction of the constituent subunits of a protein whereby a conformational change in one subunit is transmitted to all others.
Term
What do higher levels of organization result in?
Definition
The emergence of new properties. Organization is the key to the chemistry of life.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!