Enzymes (VERY IMPORTANT)

metabolism

total of an organism's chemical reactions (exergonic and endergonic)

exergonic reaction

chemical reaction that releases free energy

endergonic reaction

chemical reaction that absorbs energy from an outside source

enzyme

biological catalysts (reduce barrier - speed up reaction and are reusable)

catalysts

any substance that increase/decrease rate of chemical reaction

cofactors

non protein molecuels required for proper funciton of enzyme (not orgainc)

co enzymes

organic molecules that are serving as cofactors (ex. vitamins)

structure of an enzyme-substrate interaction

there is an enzyme available (empty active sight, a substrate comes and binds to enzyme, the substrate gets converted into products, and products are released

active sight

where enzyme-substrate interactions happen

what happens if cellular environment changes?

there is a denatured enzyme

denatured enzyme

enzyme changed shape, substrates can't bind to it anymore (this is irreversible)