Biochem Final

Activation Energy

Minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction

Catalytic group

Specific collection of atoms within a catalyst

Protein denaturation

Process where a protein unfolds and loses its original 3D structure - biologically inactive

Tertiary Structure of a Protein

3D shape of a single polypeptide chain, formed by folding of the secondary structure

Hydrophobic effect

tendency for non-polar substances to aggregate in water

Biological Buffer

Substance that maintains a stable pH in biological systems

Isoelectric point

pH at which a molecule, like an amino acid or protein, has no net electrical charge

Second Law of Thermodynamics

For any spontaneous process, the total entropy of the universe always increases

Coenzyme

non-protein organic molecule that helps enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions

Brownian Motion

Random, erratic movement of particles suspended in a fluid, caused by their constant collision with the invisible molecules of the fluid

Steric Interference

Repulsion between atoms or groups of atoms in a molecule due to their physical size

Allosteric enzyme

Regulatory enzyme that has both an active site for substrate binding and a seperate allosteric site for an effector molecule to bind to it.