Quizlet Chapter 3.1 Metabolic Reactions & Enzymes

What is metabolism?

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in the body.

What is anabolism?

The synthesis of organic molecules.

What is catabolism?

The breakdown of organic molecules.

What is activation energy?

The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

What is the difference between exergonic and endergonic reactions?

Exergonic reactions release energy, while endergonic reactions require energy input.

What is dehydration synthesis?

A reaction that synthesizes biomolecules by removing water.

What is hydrolysis?

A reaction that breaks down biomolecules by adding water.

What is phosphorylation?

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule.

What is dephosphorylation?

The removal of a phosphate group from a molecule.

What does LEO says GER stand for?

LEO: Loss of Electrons is Oxidation; GER: Gain of Electrons is Reduction.

What is chemical equilibrium?

When the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.

What factors determine the speed of a reaction?

Concentration of reactants, temperature, properties of reactants, and activation energy.

What role do enzymes play in metabolic reactions?

Enzymes act as catalysts that lower the activation energy of reactions.

What is the lock-and-key model?

A model describing how enzymes and substrates fit together.

What are cofactors?

Non-protein molecules required for enzyme activity.

What are coenzymes?

Organic molecules that transfer chemical groups during reactions.

What is feedback inhibition?

A process where the end product inhibits an earlier enzyme to regulate production.

What is a metabolic pathway?

A sequence of enzyme-mediated reactions leading to a specific product.

What is a rate-limiting reaction?

The step with the slowest reaction rate in a metabolic pathway.

What are inborn errors of metabolism?

Mutations in genes coding for enzymes that disrupt metabolic pathways.

What is the role of temperature in enzymatic activity?

Temperature can influence the reaction rate and enzyme activity.

What is the significance of substrate specificity?

It determines which substrates an enzyme can act upon based on its active site shape.

What is covalent regulation of enzyme activity?

The formation or breakage of covalent bonds that alters enzyme activity.

What is the induced-fit model?

A model that describes how enzymes change shape to fit substrates during the reaction.

What is the effect of enzyme concentration on reaction rate?

Increasing enzyme concentration can increase the reaction rate at any substrate concentration.

What is the function of allosteric regulation?

It alters the affinity or catalytic rate of an enzyme through modulators.

What is the difference between a kinase and a phosphatase?

A kinase adds a phosphate group, while a phosphatase removes it.