Enzyme Mechanisms and Energetics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to enzymes, their mechanisms, and energetics to aid in exam preparation.

Activation Energy

The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Gibbs Free Energy (DG)

The difference in energy between the reactants and products; if negative, the reaction is spontaneous.

Exergonic Reaction

A type of reaction that releases energy, having a negative DG.

Endergonic Reaction

A type of reaction that requires energy input, having a positive DG.

Enzyme

A protein that catalyzes chemical reactions, speeding them up without being consumed in the process.

Active Site

The region on an enzyme where substrates bind and the reaction occurs.

Allosteric Site

A site on an enzyme that can bind regulatory molecules, changing the enzyme’s activity.

Competitive Inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site.

Non-competitive Inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where an inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site, altering enzyme function.

Coupled Reactions

The process of pairing exergonic reactions with endergonic reactions to drive the latter.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulation mechanism where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step.

Substrate Concentration

The amount of substrate available for reaction, which can affect the rate of enzyme catalysis.

Enzyme Concentration

The amount of enzyme present that can influence the rate at which a reaction occurs.

Allosteric Activation

The process by which a regulatory molecule binds to an enzyme, enhancing its activity.

Enzyme Activity

The rate at which an enzyme catalyzes its reaction, influenced by various factors including pH and temperature.