metabolism
the totality of an organisms chemical reactions, consisting of catabolic and anabolic pathways which manage the material and energy resources of the organism
metabolic pathway
a series of chemical reactions that either builds a complex molecule (anabolic) or breaks down a complex molecule to simpler molecules (catabolic)
catabolic pathways
a pathway that releases energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler molecules (energy released)
anabolic pathway
a pathway that consumes energy to synthesize a complex molecule from simpler molecules (energy is used)
bioenergetics
the overall flow and transformation of energy in an organism; the study of how energy flows through organisms
energy
the capacity to cause change, especially to do work
kinetic energy
the relative motion of objects (KE)
thermal energy
the random movements of atoms or molecules (TE)
Heat
TE in transfer from one body of matter to another
Potential energy
the energy that matter possesses as a result of its location or structure (PE)
chemical energy
energy available in molecules for release in a chemical reaction; form of PE
thermodynamics
study of transformations that could occur in a collection of matter
1st law of thermodynamics
principle of conservation of energy: energy can be transferred and transformed, but not created or destroyed
entropy
a measure of molecular disorder or randomness (the more random the greater the entropy)
2nd law of thermodynamics
principle stating that every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe. usable forms of energy are at least partly converted to heat
spontaneous process
process that occurs without an overall input of energy; a process that is energetically favorable
non spontaneous process
process that on its own leads to a decrease in energy and will only happen if energy is supplied
free energy
portion of a biological systems energy that can perform work when temp and pressure are uniform throughout the system
what is the equation for the change in free energy
G(final state) - G(initial state)= the change in G (free energy)
exergonic reaction
a spontaneous chemical reaction in which there is a net release of free energy; the greater the decrease in free energy the greater amount of work can be done
endergonic reaction
a non spontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings
chemical work
the pushing of endergonic runs that wouldn’t occur spontaneously
transport work
the pumping of substances across membrane against the direction of spontaneous movement
mechanical work
an example would be the beating of cilia, retraction of muscle cells
energy coupling
in cellular metabolism the use of energy released from an exergonic reaction is used to drive an endergonic rxn
phosphorylated intermediate
a molecule with a phosphate group covalently bonded to it, making it more reactive (less stable) than the unphosphorylated molecule
enzyme
macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases the rate of a rxn without being consumed by the rxn
activation energy
the amount of energy the reactants must absorb before a chemical rxn will start; AKA free energy of activation (energy needed to push “uphill” to then go “downhill”
transition state
when molecules have absorbed enough energy for the bonds to break, the reactancts are in this unstable situation
catalysis
a process by which a chemical agent called a catalyst selectively increases the rate of a rxn without being consumed by the rxn
substrate
the reactant on which the enzyme works
enzyme-substrate complex
a temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate
active site
the specific region of an enzyme that binds the substrate that forms the pocket in which catalysis occurs
induced fit
caused by entry of the substrate, the change in shape of the active site of an enzyme so that is binds more snugly to the substrate
Substrates connected to enzyme?
held to the active site with hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds
saturation of enzymes
saturated as soon as the product exits an active site another substrate molecule enter
cofactor
any nonprotein molecule or ion that is required for the proper functioning of an enzyme. can be bound permanently to the active site or may bind loosely and reversibly along with the substrate during catalysis (inorganic)
coenzyme
an organic molecule serving as a cofactor. most vitamins function as coenzymes in metabolic reactions
competitive inhibitors
a substance that reduces the activity of an enzyme by entering the active site in place of a substrate whose structure it mimics
noncompetitive inhibitor
substance that reduces the activity of an enzyme by binding to a location remote to the active site, changing the enzymes shape so that the active site no longer effectively catalyzes the conversion of the substrate to the product
allosteric regulation
the binding of a regulatory molecule to a protein at one site that affects the fan of the protein at a different site
cooperativity
kind of allosteric regulation whereby a shape change in one subunit of a protein caused by protein binding is transmitted to all the other subunits, facilitating binding of additional substrate molecules to those subunits
feedback inhibition
a method of metabolic control in which the end product of a metabolic pathway acts as an inhibitor of an enzyme within that pathway
mesophyll
the tissue of the interior of the leaf where chloroplasts are usually found
stomata
a microscopic pore surrounded by guarded cells in the epidermis of eaves and stems that allows gas exchange between the environment and the interior of the plant (CO2 enters O2 exits
stroma
the dense fluid within the chloroplast surrounding the thylakoid membrane and containing ribosomes and DNA; Involved in the synthesis of organic molecules from CO2 and H2O (chloroplasts have an envelope of 2 membranes surrounding the stroma)
thylakoids
a flattened membraneous sac inside a chloroplast. Often exist in stacks called grand that are interconnected; their membranes contain molecular “machinery” used to convert light energy to chemical energy
chlorophyll
A green pigment located in membranes within the chloroplast of plants and algae and in the membranes of certain prokarys chlorophyll a participates directly in light runs which convert solar energy to chemical energy
Light rxns
the 1st of 2 major stages in photosynthesis. these runs which occur on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts or on membranes of certain prokarys convert solar energy to the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH releasing oxygen in the process
Calvin cycle
2nd of 2 major stages in photosynthesis involving fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and reduction of the fixed carbon into carbs
NADPH
the reduced form of NADP+which temporarily stores electrons produced during the light runs. NADPH acts as a “reducing” power that can be passed along to an electron acceptor reducing it
photophosphorylation
the process of generating ATP from ADP and prostate by means of chemiosmosis using a proton motive force generated across the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast or the membrane of certain prokarys during the light rxn of photosynthesis
carbon fixation
the initial incorporation of carbon from CO2 into an organic compound by an autotrophic organism
wavelength
the distance between crests of waves such as those of the electromagnetic spectrum
visible light
the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by various colors by the human eye
photons
a quantum or discrete quantity of light energy that behaves as if it were a particle
absorption
the range of a pigments ability to absorb various wavelengths of light; a graph of such a range
Chlorophyll a
a photosynthetic pigment that participate directly in the light runs, which convert solar energy to chemical energy
chlorophyll b
an accessory photosynthetic pigment that transfers energy to chlorophyll a
action spectrum
a graph that profiles the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of radiation in driving a particular process
cartenoids
accessory pigments, either yellow or orange in chloroplasts of plants and in some prokarys by absorbing wavelengths of light that chlorophyll can’t they broaden the spectru, of colors that can drive photosynthesis