Physiology Chapter 4

Metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions in the body.

Anabolism

Metabolic process where small molecules are built into larger ones; requires energy.

Catabolism

Metabolic process where larger molecules are broken down into smaller ones; releases energy.

Dehydration synthesis

Process where smaller molecules are bound together to form larger ones, producing water.

Hydrolysis

Process used to decompose carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids by using water to split substances.

Enzymes

Proteins that control the rates of both catabolic and anabolic reactions, greatly increasing reaction rates.

Metabolic pathways

Series of enzyme-controlled reactions leading to the formation of a product.

Rate-limiting enzyme

A regulatory enzyme that catalyzes one step of a pathway and typically sets the rate for the entire sequence.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate; the main energy-carrying molecule in the cell.

Cellular respiration

Process that transfers energy from molecules and makes it available for cellular use.

Anaerobic reactions

Reactions that do not require oxygen and produce little ATP.

Aerobic reactions

Reactions that require oxygen and produce most of the ATP.

Glycolysis

First reaction sequence of glucose breakdown occurring in the cytosol and yielding 2 ATP molecules.

Acetyl Coenzyme A

Product formed from pyruvic acid that enters aerobic pathways.

Citric Acid Cycle

Cycle that produces ATP and transfers hydrogen atoms to carriers; occurs in aerobic conditions.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Series of enzyme complexes in the mitochondria that manage the transfer of electrons to produce ATP.

Gene

Sequence of DNA that contains information for making one protein.

Genome

Complete set of genetic information in a cell.

Exome

Small portion of the genome that codes for proteins.

Transcription

Process of copying DNA sequence onto an RNA sequence.

Translation

Process of converting the genetic code carried by mRNA into a sequence of amino acids.

tRNA (Transfer RNA)

Type of RNA that transports amino acids to ribosomes for protein synthesis.

rRNA (Ribosomal RNA)

Type of RNA that, along with proteins, form the ribosome.

DNA Replication

Process that produces an exact copy of a DNA molecule.

Mutations

Changes in genetic information that can affect health or appearance.

DNA Repair

Correction of a mismatched nucleotide by a repair enzyme.