Biological Rate Processes Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to biological rate processes discussed in the lecture, including biosensors, kinetics, receptor-ligand interactions, and thermodynamic principles.

Biosensors

Devices that measure the rate and extent of complex formation.

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)

An optical effect used to measure binding interactions.

Hypothesis Testing

A method for testing a proposed mechanism in biological systems.

Receptor

A protein that binds to ligands and undergoes conformational changes.

Ligand

A free molecule that binds to a receptor to form a complex.

Receptor-Ligand Complex

The resulting complex formed when a ligand binds to its receptor.

Mass Action Kinetics

A principle stating that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the product of the concentrations of the reactants.

Steady State

A condition where the system variables remain constant over time.

Dissociation Constant (Kd)

A measure of the affinity between a ligand and its receptor; represents the concentration of ligand at which half of the receptor is bound.

Thermodynamics

The study of energy changes, including enthalpy and entropy, and their effects on reaction spontaneity.

Gibbs Free Energy (AG)

A thermodynamic potential that measures the maximum reversible work obtainable from a system.

First Order Kinetics

A reaction kinetics where the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of one reactant.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells internalize substances from the extracellular environment.

Equilibrium

A state where the rates of forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in stable concentrations of reactants and products.