Lecture Notes: Protein Denaturation, Nucleic Acids, Chemical Reactions, and Enzymes (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from protein denaturation/renaturation, nucleic acids, chemical reactions, and enzymes.

Protein denaturation

A protein loses its shape and stops functioning, usually due to heat, pH changes, or chemical exposure.

Renaturation

The process by which a denatured protein may regain its normal shape and function if damage is not too severe.

Nucleic acids

Information-rich polymers of nucleotides; the two main types are DNA and RNA.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; the nucleic acid that stores genetic information (one of the two main types).

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; the other main nucleic acid type; uses bases A, C, G, and U and is involved in protein synthesis.

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids consisting of a five-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine).

Reactants

Substances that participate in a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances produced by a chemical reaction.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together.

Atom

The basic unit of matter; atoms combine to form molecules.

Activation energy

The amount of energy that must be absorbed to start a chemical reaction.

Exothermic reaction

A reaction that releases more energy than it absorbs.

Endothermic reaction

A reaction that absorbs more energy than it releases.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Substrate

The specific reactant that an enzyme acts on.

Active site

A pocket on the enzyme surface where the substrate fits.

Denature (enzyme)

A change in enzyme shape caused by temperature or pH, leading to loss of function.

Optimal conditions

Environmental conditions under which an enzyme functions best.

Enzyme specificity

Each enzyme catalyzes a specific reaction due to its unique three-dimensional shape.

Enzyme sensitivity to conditions

Enzymes require proper environmental conditions and can be inactivated by changes in temperature or pH.