Molecular Bio Exam 1 (Ch 3)

how do cells use energy?

primarily through cellular respiration when glucose is broken down and ATP is generated

how to cells obtain and store energy?

by the oxidation of organic molecules, it is when cells harvest energy from food molecules

what are catabolic reactions?

chemical processes within a living organism that break down large, complex molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process

what are anabolic reactions

chemical reactions within a living organism that use energy to build larger, more complex molecules from smaller, simpler ones

how do enzymes catalyze chemical reactions in cells?

An enzyme can catalyze a reaction by making a substrate molecule split into two or more molecules. Or can catalyze the reaction of joining together two molecules, to make a dipeptide.

enzymes can also pair together molecules products to make the reaction faster

what are major differences among different activated carriers?

A small molecule that stores energy or chemical groups in a form that can be donated to many different metabolic reactions. Examples include ATP, acetyl CoA, and NADH.

how are different activated carriers used by cells?

each carrier molecule is specialized to transfer specific chemical groups like phosphate groups (ATP), electrons (NADH/NADPH), or even specific functional groups depending on the reaction required. 

how are biological polymers synthesized in cells?

synthesized in cells through a process called dehydration synthesis, where individual monomers are linked together by covalent bonds, releasing a water molecule in the process, to form long chains called polymers