AP Biology Unit 3 - Cellular Energies

enzyme

biological catalyst, used in all living systems

catalyst

substance that increases reaction rates without being used up in the reaction

denaturation

changing the shape of an enzyme so its active site no longer fits the substrate

pH

measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution

allosteric

binding site on an enzyme other than the active side

eukaryote

cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

prokaryote

cell without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

photosynthesis

process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy that can be used by the organism

cellular respiration

the set of complex chemical reactions that releases energy from food

fermentation

a metabolic process in which an organism converts a carbohydrate, such as starch or a sugar, into a alcohol or an acid

ATP

adenosine triphosphate, the only usable energy source for living cells

ATP synthase

the enzyme responsible for creating ATP from ADP and Pi

chemiomosis

diffusion of protons through special ports on the inner mitochondrial membrane that generates energy to create ATP

phosphorylation

attachment of a phosphate group to a molecule

pyruvate

the byproduct of glycolysis, used later in the Krebs cycle