Enzymes and Metabolic Pathways

Flashcards covering key concepts related to enzymes and metabolic pathways.

Metabolism

All the chemical reactions within a cell.

Homeostasis

The tendency of the body to seek and maintain a balance in its internal environment.

Enzyme-mediated reactions

Reactions in the body that are mediated by one or more enzymes.

Anabolic metabolism

Metabolism that builds molecules.

Catabolic metabolism

Metabolism that breaks down molecules.

Metabolic pathway

An orderly series of chemical reactions from the initial reactants to the products.

Reactants

Substances that participate in a reaction.

Products

Substances that form as a result of a reaction.

Specific enzyme

An enzyme that catalyzes a specific step in a metabolic pathway.

Activation energy (Ea)

The energy required to break chemical bonds and initiate a chemical reaction.

Denaturation

Loss of biological activity in an enzyme due to extreme conditions.

Competitive inhibitor

A molecule that competes with the substrate for the active site on the enzyme.

Non-competitive inhibitor

An inhibitor that binds to a site other than the active site, changing the shape of the enzyme.

Feedback inhibition

A process where the final product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step in the pathway.

Active site

The place where the substrate binds on the enzyme.

Lock and Key Model

A model suggesting that the enzyme and substrate fit together perfectly without change.

Induced Fit Model

A model suggesting that the enzyme changes shape slightly to fit the substrate upon binding.