energy and enzymes

Catabolism

Break down biological polymers into monomers to help generate ATP.

Exergonic

Meaning there is a net release of free energy

Anabolic reactions

Build up monomers into biological polymers for energy storage

Endergonic

Require a net investment of free energy into the bonds between the monomers

Dehydration synthesis

Anabolic chemical reaction that forms covalent bonds between monomers to build polymers of biomolecules. Water is formed as a byproduct of the reaction.

Hydrolysis

Catabolic chemical reaction that breaks the covalent bonds between monomers to break polymers into monomers. Water is used as a reactant in the reaction.

Substrate

Reactant that is changed by the enzyme.

Active Site

Where the substrate binds. Matches the shape and chemical properties of the substrate

Enzymes

biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body so they go fast enough to maintain homeostasis

Activation Energy

All chemical reactions require a certain amount of energy to occur.

Amylase

mouth enzyme that breaks down starch

Pepsin

stomach enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Enzymes in the intestines

use hydrolysis to break food into nutrients.

Small Intestine

absorbs these nutrients into the blood stream so they can get to cells that need them.

Enzyme efficiency

measure of how close to that maximum rate they are working.

Raising pH - more basic

high concentration of OH- ions. Cause denature of enzyme

Lowering pH - more acidic

high concentration of H+ ions. denature enzyme

Cofactors

non-protein small inorganic compounds & ions bound within enzyme molecule

coenzymes

non-protein organic molecules that bind near the active site and assist reactions

Competitive inhibitor

Inhibitor and substrate have similar shapes and compete for the active site of the enzyme. stops the substrate from binding and inhibits the enzyme

non-competitve inhibitor

Inhibitor binds to a different place on the enzyme called the allosteric (other) site. prevents substrate from binding

Negative Feedback Inhibition

a cellular control process where the end product of a metabolic pathway turns off an earlier enzyme in the same pathway to stop overproduction