AP Biology- Unit 3

Cell Energetics

Free Energy

Portion of energy that can perform work

Exergonic

Release of free energy

-Decrease free energy

ex. respiration

Endergonic

Absorbs free energy

-Increse free energy

ex. photosynthesis

Equilibrium

No change in free energy

Denaturation

Enzyme structure is broken, affects active site

-temperature

-pH

-salinity

Chaperone Proteins

Aid in refolding proteins

-can renature enzymes

Competitive Inhibitors

Prevents enzyme activity

-binds to active site

-enzyme can no longer function

Noncompetitive Inhibitors

Prevent enzyme activity

-binds to allosteric site

-changes shape of active site, substrate can’t bond

Catabolic Pathways

Break down complex molecules into small ones

-releases energy

-ex. respiration

Anabolic Pathways

Builds complex molecules from smaller ones

-consumes energy

-ex. photosynthesis

Feedback Inhibition

Type of regulation

-metabolic pathway gets shut off from end-product (inhibits the enzyme)

Enzymes

Protein that speeds up chemical reactions

-lowers the activation energy