Metabolism and Enzymes

Chemical Reaction

Any process in which one or more substances (reactants) are changed to form different substances (products)

Metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions with an organism

Catabolism

Breaks down molecules and releases energy

Anabolism

Synthesizes molecules, consumes energy

Cells catabolize (break down) organic moles to…

extract energy stored in high-energy C-H bonds

ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate

energy currency of the cell

Stored energy

Negative charges repel each other but held together by bonds

Catabolism drives anabolism, which is linked by…

ATP

Metabolic Pathways

series of interconnected chemical reactions that occur within an organism to carry out essential functions

Enzymes

Protein catalyst, speed up chemical reactions by binding to the reactants (their substrate) at their active site

True or False: both catabolic and anabolic reactions require enzymes

True

True or False: Enzymes are reusable

True

Catalyst

speed up chemical reactions, but aren’t consumed or permanently changed

True or False: Enzymes can replace energy

False

Enzymes are specific

Majority of metabolic pathways, each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme

Cofactors

Nonprotein helpers that many enzymes require to carry out their jobs

Coenzymes

organic cofactors, typically derived from vitamins

Regulatory molecules

Molecule that binds to enzymes to either decrease or increase enzyme activity

Feedback Regulation

enzymes inhibited or activated by the end product of the pathways they control

Optimum

Temp or pH at which the enzyme is most active

Denaturation

Loss of protein’s 3D structure

True or False: Enzymes are sensitive to their environment

True

Substrate Concentration

Limits the reaction rate

Maximum Reaction Rate

Enzymes population is saturated

All active sites are occupied…

Adding more substrates will not make a difference