Regulation of Enzyme Activity in Metabolism

These flashcards include vocabulary terms related to the regulation of enzyme activity in metabolism, focusing on definitions and concepts essential for understanding biochemical processes.

Enzyme Regulation

The process of controlling enzyme activity to manage cellular metabolism.

Allosteric Regulation

Regulation of an enzyme's activity through the binding of a regulatory molecule to a separate site.

Noncompetitive Inhibitor

A molecule that inhibits enzyme activity by binding to an alternative site, altering the enzyme's shape.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind.

Subunit

A single polypeptide chain that forms part of a multi-subunit enzyme.

Cooperativity

A phenomenon where the binding of a substrate to one active site increases the catalytic activity at other active sites.

Feedback Inhibition

A metabolic control mechanism where an end product inhibits an earlier enzyme in the pathway.

Regulatory Site

The site on an allosteric enzyme where a regulatory molecule binds.

Anabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways that build complex molecules from simpler ones.

Catabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways that break down complex molecules into simpler ones.

Metabolic Pathway

A series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell, catalyzed by enzymes.

ATP Hydrolysis

The chemical process of breaking down ATP to release energy, producing ADP and inorganic phosphate.

Activator

A molecule that increases enzyme activity by binding to a regulatory site.

Inhibitor

A molecule that decreases enzyme activity by binding to a regulatory site.

Polypeptide Chain

A sequence of amino acids that fold into a functional protein.

Regulatory Molecule

A molecule that influences the activity of an enzyme, either enhancing or inhibiting its function.

Shape Change

A structural alteration of an enzyme that can affect its activity.

Compartmentalization

The division of cellular processes into different regions or compartments within the cell.

Multienzyme Complex

A group of enzymes that work together in sequence to complete a metabolic pathway.

Chemical Environment

The specific conditions, including pH and concentration of ions, that affect enzyme function within cellular compartments.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce energy through cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

The catabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into ATP.

Bioenergetics

The study of the energy flow and transformation within biological systems.

Polypeptide

A polymer of amino acids that forms proteins.

Substrate

The substance upon which an enzyme acts.

Enzyme Activity

The measure of the ability of an enzyme to catalyze a reaction.

Chemical Pathways

Enzymatically controlled sequences of reactions that lead to the conversion of substrates into products.

ATP Production

The generation of ATP during metabolic processes, primarily within mitochondria.

Reactive Nature

The tendency of enzymes to interact with substrates and catalyze reactions.

End Product

The final product created at the end of a metabolic pathway.

Isoleucine Synthesis

An anabolic process that produces the amino acid isoleucine from threonine.

Thermodynamics

The study of energy transformations that govern the physical and chemical processes in biological systems.

Metabolic Control

Regulation mechanisms that coordinate various biochemical pathways.

Enzyme Substrates

The molecules that enzymes act upon to facilitate chemical reactions.

Biochemical Pathways

Networks of biochemical reactions regulated by enzymes and essential for cell function.

Energy Flow

The transfer and transformation of energy through a biological system during metabolism.

Cellular Structures

Components within a cell that organize and facilitate metabolic processes.

Functioning Active Sites

The regions of an enzyme where substrate binding occurs, leading to catalysis.

Chemical Resources

The molecules and energy necessary for cellular processes and metabolic pathways.