AP BIO MR W

Enzymes

Proteins that catalyze reactions by lowering activation energy.

Catalyze

To accelerate a reaction.

Activation Energy

The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Substrate

The substance on which an enzyme acts.

Denaturation

The loss of an enzyme's native structure, rendering it inactive.

Competitive Inhibition

A foreign molecule that blocks the enzyme's active site, preventing substrate binding.

Non-Competitive Inhibition

A foreign molecule binds to the enzyme at an allosteric site, changing the active site.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that capture energy from organic compounds produced by other organisms.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy.

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions that absorb energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell, storing and transferring energy.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that use light energy to create organic compounds via photosynthesis.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of protons across a membrane to generate ATP.

Calvin Cycle

The cycle that uses ATP and NADPH to convert CO2 into sugars.

RuBisCO

An enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the Calvin Cycle.

Fermentation

A process that regenerates NAD+ for glycolysis under anaerobic conditions.

Alcohol Fermentation

A process where pyruvate is converted to ethanol in yeast.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A process where pyruvate is converted to lactic acid in muscles.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of proteins that transfer electrons to produce ATP.

Proton Gradient

A difference in proton concentration across a membrane that drives ATP synthesis.