Metabolism and Energy Production

This flashcard set covers key vocabulary and definitions related to metabolism and energy production processes, including glycolysis, fermentation, the TCA cycle, and redox reactions.

Catabolism

Reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller molecules and energy intermediates.

Anabolism

Reactions that assemble small molecules into macromolecules and biomass.

Metabolism

The sum of catabolism and anabolism.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, yielding ATP and NADH.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen, primarily recycling NADH to NAD+.

TCA Cycle

Also known as the Krebs cycle, this pathway processes acetyl-CoA to produce NADH and CO2.

Proton Motive Force (PMF)

The force that drives protons across a membrane, generated by a hydrogen ion gradient.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between two species, with oxidation being the loss of electrons and reduction being the gain.

Allosteric Regulation

A form of regulation where the activity of an enzyme is modified by the binding of an effector molecule at a site other than the enzyme's active site.

Electron Transport System (ETS)

A series of proteins that transfer electrons, leading to the pumping of protons across a membrane and the generation of ATP.

Oxidative Decarboxylation

A chemical reaction involving the removal of carbon dioxide from a substrate, typically linked to the electro-transfer of electrons.

NADH

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an important coenzyme responsible for transferring electrons in the metabolism.

Acetyl-CoA

A key intermediary metabolite in the catabolism of carbohydrates and fats, linking glycolysis to the TCA cycle.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an enzyme involved in its production.

Chemoorganotrophy

Metabolic process where organisms obtain energy by oxidizing organic compounds.

Proton Gradient

A difference in hydrogen ion concentration across a membrane, used to drive ATP synthesis.

Respiration

A metabolic process in which cells obtain energy by converting biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP, typically involving electron transport.

Oxidation-Reduction Potential (E'0)

A measure indicating the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons and be reduced.

Facultative Anaerobes

Organisms that can switch between aerobic respiration and fermentation based on the availability of oxygen.

Flux

The continuous movement or flow of metabolites through metabolic pathways.