Metabolism and Enzymatic Reactions

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts of metabolism, enzyme function, and metabolic pathways.

What is metabolism?

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring within a cell.

What are catabolic reactions?

Reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller ones and release energy.

What are anabolic reactions?

Reactions that build up molecules and require energy.

What does ATP stand for?

Adenosine triphosphate.

What is the role of enzymes in chemical reactions?

They catalyze specific chemical reactions, making them occur more energetically favorable.

What is activation energy?

The minimal energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

What are cofactors?

Metal ions that activate or enhance an enzyme's activity.

What is a substrate?

The target molecule that an enzyme acts upon.

What is the induced fit model?

The mechanism by which a substrate binds to an enzyme's active site and alters the enzyme's structure.

What is enzyme specificity?

The selectiveness of an enzyme for a particular substrate.

What does the enzyme suffix 'ase' indicate?

It indicates that the molecule has enzymatic activity.

Name an example of a hydrolase enzyme.

Amylase, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of starches.

Explain oxidation in metabolic terms.

the loss of electrons from a molecule.

What is reduction in metabolic terms?

the gain of electrons by a molecule

What is the acronym used to remember the relationship between oxidation and reduction?

OIL RIG, which stands for Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain.

What is NADH?

a high-energy electron carrier involved in various metabolic pathways.

What happens to NADH during oxidation?

It loses electrons and converts to its oxidized form, NAD+.

What kind of pathways do enzymes catalyze?

Both catabolic and anabolic pathways

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

The intermediate formed when an enzyme binds its substrate.

What are transferases?

Enzymes that transfer functional groups from one molecule to another.

What is the main focus of cellular respiration?

To generate energy from the breakdown of glucose.