AP Biology unit 3.1 vocab

Activation Energy

energy necessary for reactions to occur

Active Site

specific region of the enzyme to which the substrate binds

Allosteric Inhibition

inhibition by a binding event at a site different from the active site, which induces a conformational change and reduces the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate

Anabolic

pathways that require an input of energy to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones

ATP

the cell’s energy currency

Catabolic

pathways in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones

Chemical Energy

potential energy in chemical bonds that is released when those bonds are broken

Coenzyme

small organic molecule, such as a vitamin or its derivative, which is required to enhance the activity of an enzyme

Cofactor

inorganic ion, such as iron and magnesium ions, required for optimal regulation of enzyme activity

Competitive Inhibition

type of inhibition in which the inhibitor competes with the substrate molecule by binding to the active site of the enzyme

Denature

process that changes the natural properties of a substance

Feedback Inhibition

effect of a product of a reaction sequence to decrease its further production by inhibiting the activity of the first enzyme in the pathway that produces it

Metabolism

all the chemical reactions that take place inside cells, including anabolism and catabolism

Substrate

molecule on which the enzyme acts

Transition State

high-energy, unstable state (an intermediate form between the substrate and the product) occurring during a chemical reaction

-ology

science, knowledge

-oma

swelling, tumor

onco-

mass, bulk

oo-

egg

-opia

sight

os-, oste-, osteo-

bone

ose

designating a sugar

-osis

condition or process

ov

egg

para-

near, by, beside

patho-

disease, suffering

-ped

foot

pept-

digest

peri-

around, near

phago

to eat