Biochemistry and Cellular Processes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to biochemistry, cell metabolism, and processes such as glycolysis, Krebs cycle, photosynthesis, and enzyme mechanics.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy, characterized by a negative Gibbs free energy (ΔG < 0).

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that requires or absorbs energy, characterized by a positive Gibbs free energy (ΔG > 0).

ΔG (Gibbs free energy)

The measure of the free energy change in a reaction, which indicates spontaneity.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells break down glucose to produce ATP, carbon dioxide, and water.

Peptide bond

A covalent bond formed between two amino acids in a protein.

Glycosidic bond

The bond that connects monosaccharides in carbohydrates.

Ester bond

The bond formed between fatty acids and glycerol in lipids.

Phosphodiester bond

The bond that links nucleotides in nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA.

Enzyme Kinetics

The study of how enzymes bind substrates and turn them into products, characterized by parameters like Km and Vmax.

Competitive Inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where a substance similar to the substrate competes for binding at the active site.

Noncompetitive Inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where the inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, affecting its function.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH in the process.

Krebs Cycle (TCA Cycle)

The metabolic pathway that fully oxidizes acetyl-CoA to produce NADH, FADH2, ATP, and carbon dioxide.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

The sequence of protein complexes that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen, using the energy to pump protons and produce ATP.

Chemiosmosis

The process of using a proton gradient to drive the synthesis of ATP.

Calvin Cycle

The set of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide and RuBP into glucose.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism in metabolic pathways where an end product inhibits an earlier step to prevent overproduction.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process by which cells convert pyruvate into lactate or ethanol and carbon dioxide, regenerating NAD+.

Membrane Fluidity

The viscosity of the lipid bilayer in cell membranes, influenced by cholesterol and the types of fatty acids present.

Transport Kinetics

The study of how transport proteins function, characterized by parameters like Km and Vmax.

Photosystem I

The photosystem in photosynthesis that receives electrons and is involved in the production of NADPH.

Photosystem II

The photosystem in photosynthesis that splits water molecules to provide electrons to the electron transport chain.