Study Guide 3 (Thur 3/27)

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate, the cell's energy currency composed of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.

ATP Hydrolysis

The process by which a phosphate bond in ATP is broken, releasing energy and forming ADP and Pi.

Energy

The ability to do work or capacity to cause change.

Kinetic Energy

Energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

Stored energy based on position or structure.

Chemical Energy

Potential energy available for release in chemical reactions.

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions that require energy and are non-spontaneous.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy and are spontaneous.

Activation Energy (Ea)

The initial energy required to start a reaction.

Catalysts

Substances that speed up a reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Entropy

The measure of disorder or randomness in a system.

Competitive Inhibitor

A type of inhibitor that binds to the active site of an enzyme, blocking substrate access.

Noncompetitive Inhibitor

An inhibitor that binds to an allosteric site, altering the enzyme's shape and function.

Catabolism

The process of breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The process that consumes energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a molecule.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that splits molecules by adding water.

Decarboxylation

The process of losing carbon dioxide (CO2) from a compound.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose).

Cellular Respiration

The process by which organisms convert chemical energy from glucose into ATP.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate; the energy currency of the cell composed of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.

ATP Hydrolysis

The process of breaking a phosphate bond in ATP to release energy, resulting in ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi).

Kinetic Energy

The energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

Stored energy based on an object's position or structure.

Thermal Energy

The kinetic energy of atoms or molecules in motion.

Heat

The transfer of thermal energy between objects.

Chemical Energy

Potential energy available for release in chemical reactions.

Exergonic Reaction

A spontaneous reaction that releases energy; characterized by a negative ΔG.

Endergonic Reaction

A non-spontaneous reaction that requires energy; characterized by a positive ΔG.

Activation Energy (Ea)

The initial energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system, typically increasing in energy transfers.

Metabolism

The totality of an organism's chemical reactions.

Competitive Inhibitor

A molecule that mimics the substrate and competes for binding at the active site of an enzyme.

Noncompetitive Inhibitor

A molecule that binds to an allosteric site on an enzyme, altering its shape and function.

Catabolism

The process of breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The process of building complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a molecule.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a molecule.

Photophosphorylation

ATP production resulting from the capture of light energy by chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose) in chloroplasts.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose into cellular energy (ATP) in mitochondria.

Calvin Cycle

The process in photosynthesis where CO2 is converted into glucose, requiring ATP and NADPH.

Rubisco

The enzyme responsible for carbon fixation in the Calvin Cycle.

Alcohol Fermentation

A type of anaerobic respiration used by yeast and bacteria, converting pyruvate to ethanol.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A type of anaerobic respiration occurring in muscle cells and some bacteria, converting pyruvate to lactic acid.

Light-dependent Reactions

Reactions in photosynthesis that capture light energy and convert it into ATP and NADPH.

Light-independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)

Reactions in photosynthesis that use ATP and NADPH to convert CO2 into glucose.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons and produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

Chemiosmosis

The mechanism by which ATP is produced in the ETC through the flow of protons across a membrane.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or transformed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

In any energy exchange, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state (entropy increases).

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down bonds using water.

Decarboxylation

The process of losing carbon dioxide (CO2).

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step.

Energy Coupling

The use of energy released from an exergonic reaction to drive an endergonic reaction.