Metabolism and Molecular Genetics Review

Flashcards to review concepts from the Metabolism and Molecular Genetics lecture notes.

Metabolism

Chemical reactions in an organism.

Catabolic Pathways

Release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds.

Anabolic Pathways

Consume energy to build complicated molecules from simpler compounds.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy (e.g., cellular respiration).

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions that absorb energy (e.g., photosynthesis).

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Source of energy for organisms.

Induced fit

Enzymes will change the shape of their active site to allow the substrate to bind better.

Cyanobacteria

Early prokaryotes capable of photosynthesis that oxygenated the atmosphere of early Earth.

Chloroplast

Organelle for the location of photosynthesis.

Stomata

Pores in leaves that allow CO2 in and O2 out.

Stroma

Aqueous internal fluid within the chloroplast.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment in thylakoid membranes.

What are the two stages of photosynthesis?

Light reactions and the Calvin cycle.

Light Reactions location and function

Occurs in the thylakoid membrane, converting sunlight to chemical energy (NADPH and ATP).

What are the three phases of the Calvin Cycle?

Carbon Fixation, Reduction, and Regeneration of RuBP.

Cellular Respiration location

Happens in the mitochondria.

Cristae

Increases the surface area of the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Intermembrane Space

The space between the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes.

Mitochondrial Matrix

Enclosed by the inner mitochondrial membrane.

What are the three stages of cellular respiration?

Glycolysis, Pyruvate oxidation and the citric acid cycle, and Oxidative phosphorylation (ETC and chemiosmosis).

Glycolysis

Splits glucose into pyruvate.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and releases CO2 and ATP.

Purines

Double ring structure.

Pyrimidines

Single ring structure.

DNA Backbone composition

Sugar-phosphate.

Semi-Conservative DNA Replication

Describes DNA replication where parental strands each make a copy of themselves, resulting in daughter molecules each having one parental and one new strand.

Helicase Function

Unwinds the DNA strands.

Topoisomerase Function

Prevent strain ahead of the replication fork by relaxing supercoiling.

Primase Function

Initiates replication by adding short segments of RNA, called primers.

Telomeres

Repeating units of short nucleotide sequences that do not code for genes.

Transcription

The synthesis of RNA using information from DNA.

Translation

The synthesis of a polypeptide using information from RNA.

Gene expression

DNA directs the synthesis of proteins.

What are the 3 types of RNA?

Messenger RNA (mRNA), Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and Transfer RNA (tRNA).

mRNA Function

Carries information from the DNA.

rRNA Function

Anticodon & helps form ribosomes & links amino acids.

What are the 3 steps of Transcription?

Intuition, Elongation, Termination

Termination

RNA Polymerase detaches, mRNA transcript, no modification

Repressible Genes

Transcription is on

Inducible Genes

Transcription is off.