Introduction to Metabolism

These flashcards cover the vocabulary related to metabolism, enzymes, and their functions as discussed in the lecture.

Metabolism

The process of breaking down food into energy.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Activation Energy

The initial energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that involves the breaking down of a compound by the addition of water.

Substrate

The reactant on which an enzyme works.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Induced Fit

A model describing how enzymes change shape to fit substrates more snugly.

Cofactor

A non-protein molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

Competitive Inhibitor

A substance that competes with the substrate for binding to the active site of an enzyme.

Non-Competitive Inhibitor

A substance that binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, altering the enzyme's shape.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulation mechanism whereby the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step to prevent overproduction.

Oxidation

The process by which a substance loses electrons.

Reduction

The process by which a substance gains electrons.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons, crucial in energy production.

Coenzyme

An organic cofactor, often a vitamin, that assists enzyme activity.

Allosteric Regulation

Control of an enzyme's activity through the binding of a regulatory molecule at a site other than the active site.

Cooperativity

A phenomenon in which the binding of one substrate molecule to an enzyme increases the affinity of the enzyme for additional substrate molecules.

Thermophilic Enzymes

Enzymes from organisms that thrive at high temperatures, requiring higher optimal temperatures for activity.

pH Levels

The measure of acidity or alkalinity that can significantly affect enzyme activity.