Chap. 4- Enzymes and energy

acetyl CoA

the combination of an acetyl group derived from pyruvic acid and coenzyme A which is made from pantothenic acid (a B-group vitamin)

activation energy

the amount of initial energy necessary for reactions to occur

active site

a specific region on the enzyme where the substrate binds

allosteric inhibition

the mechanism for inhibiting enzyme action in which a regulatory molecule binds to a second site (not the active site) and initiates a conformation change in the active site, preventing binding with the substrate

anabolic

describes the pathway that requires a net energy input to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones

anaerobic cellular respiration

the use of an electron acceptor other than oxygen to complete metabolism using electron transport-based chemiosmosis

ATP

(also, adenosine triphosphate) the cell’s energy currencyATP synthase

ATP synthase

a membrane-embedded protein complex that regenerates ATP from ADP with energy from protons diffusing through it