Metabolism Test

Catabolic Pathway

A series of

chemical reactions

that breakdown

complex molecules

into smaller units to

release energy

Anabolic Pathway

a metabolic

process that builds

complex molecules

from simpler ones,

using energy in the

process

Thermodynamics

study of relations

between, heat,

work, temperature,

and energy.

Free Energy

measure of the

capacity of the

system to do work.

If the value is

negative the

system will have a

tendency to do

work

spontaneously, as

in an exothermic

chemical reaction.

Energy Coupling

energy generated

from one reaction is

used to drive the

second reaction.

Two different

reactions or

biological systems

are coupled

together or put into

synchrony this way.

Catalyst

speeds

up an enzymic

reaction, changes

the rate of chemical

reaction

Activation Energy

the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur, essentially the energy barrier that reactants must overcome to transform into products, its the initial energy needed to start a reaction, even if the reaction overall releases energy

Active site

the

region of an

enzyme where a

substrate molecule

binds and

undergoes a

chemical reaction

Exergonic Reactions

Release energy

Endergonic Reactions

accompanied by or

required by

absorption of

energy, the

products being of

greater free energy

than the reactants.

Cofactors

non-protein

chemical

compound, like a

metal ion or organic

molecule, that is

necessary for an

enzyme to function

properly as a

catalyst, essentially

acting as a “helper

molecule” to assist

in biochemical

reactions by binding to the

enzyme and

enabling it to

perform its catalytic

activity.

Coenzymes

an organic molecule

that helps enzymes

catalyze reactions

by binding to their

active sites

Competitive inhibitors

a molecule that binds to the active site of an enzyme, competing with the enzyme’s natural substrate for access to that site. This reduce the rate of enzyme activity.

Noncompetitive inhibitors

a molecule that binds to an enzyme at a site distinct from the active site, causing a change In the enzyme’s shape and preventing the substrate from binding effectively, thereby reducing the enzymes activity without directly. Competing for the active site; essentially it alters the enzyme’s function by binding to a different region, not the substrate binding site.

Allosteric site

a

binding site on a

receptor or enzyme

that is distinct from

the primary binding

site or active site.

Feedback inhibition

a cellular control mechanism, in which the activity of an enzyme is inhibited by the end product of a biochemical pathway.

Chlorophyll

A

green pigment,

present in all green

plants and in

Cyanobacteria,

responsible for the

absorption of light

to provide energy

for photosynthesis.

It’s molecule

contains a

magnesium atom

held in a porphyrin

ring.

Mesophyll

the

middle layer of

cells, located

between the

epidermal layers of

a leaf. This

contains many

chloroplasts, which

makes it the main

site of

photosynthesis in

plants.

Light Reaction

light energy

makes two

molecules

needed for the

next stage of

photosynthesis:

the energy

storage molecule

ATP and the

reduced electron

carrier NADPH

Phosphorylation

the process of

utilizing light energy

from photo synthesis

to convert ADP to

ATP

Carbon Fixation

the process by

which inorganic

carbon from the

atmosphere is

assimilated into

living organisms

and converted to

organic

compounds.

Photons

individual

particles of light

energy that are

absorbed by

chlorophyll

molecules within

plant chloroplasts.

Chlorophyll a

the predominant

type of

chlorophyll found

in green plants

and algae.

Coverts light to

chemical energy

Chlorophyll B

more

soluble than

chlorophyll a in polar

solvents because of

its carbonyl group.

Carotenoids

a

class of pigments

found in plants,algae, and some

bacteria that are

responsible for the

yellow, orange, and

red colors of many

plants.

Photo system

functional and

structural units of protein complexes

involved in

photosynthesis.

Transfers energy

and electrons.

Found in the

thylakoid

membranes of

plants, algae, and

Cyanobacteria.

Reaction center

the central and

most important

pigment

responsible for

the conversion of

the light energy

into chemical

energy.

Rubisco

stands for

ribulose

5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, enzyme crucial for

photosynthesis, initial

step of carbon fixation

by converting carbon

dioxide from the

atmosphere into

organic carbon

compounds within

plants and other

photosynthetic

organisms , most

abundant protein on

Earth.

C4 Plants

plants

that utilize a

specialized

photosynthetic

pathway where

carbon dioxide is

initially fixed into a

four-carbon

compound before

entering the Calvin

cycle, making them

highly efficient in

hot, dry

environments and

allowing them to

minimize

photorespiration.

Bundle Sheath Cells

photosynthetic

cells arranged

into a tightly

packed sheath

around the vein

of a leaf.

Transports

compounds in

and out of the

leaf, protect the

leaf vein. Calvin

cycle takes place

in C4 plants.

CAM Plants

“Crassulacean Acid

Metabolism”, allows

them to open their

stomata at night to

absorb carbon dioxide

and store it as an

acid, then release it

during the day for

photosynthesis,

minimizing water loss

in arid environments.