bio exam 2 -6

kinetic = energy of motion/ sunlight, heat, electricity, wind

potential = stored energy/ position of object relative to its surroundings, chemical energy

1st law (law of energy conservation) = energy cannot be created or destroyed only transferred or transformed/ in biological systems, chemical energy from food is converted into usable energy (ATP)

2nd law of thermodynamics = every energy transfer increases the entropy (disorder) of the universe/ energy transformation are never 100% with some energy lost as heat

reactants = starting substances in a chemical reaction

products = substances formed as a result of chemical reaction

endergonic = absorb energy (ΔG>0), non-spontaneous, requires input (e.g., photosynthesis).

exergonic = release energy (ΔG<0), spontaneous, energy-releasing (e.g., cellular respiration)

activation site = the specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds and the chemical reaction occurs

allosteric site = a different site on the enzyme where molecules (activators or inhibitors) can bind, causing a conformational change that affects enzyme activity

reversible inhibitors = bind to enzymes non-covalently and can be removed, allowing the enzyme to regain activity

irreversible inhibitors = bind covalently or permanently alter the enzyme, preventing it from functioning

competitive inhibitors = bind to the active site, preventing the substrate from binding. can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.

allosteric (non-competitive) inhibitors = bind to the allosteric site, changing enzyme shape and reducing activity, regardless of substrate concentration

enzyme activators = increase enzyme activity, often by stabilizing the active form

enzyme inhibitors = decrease enzyme activity, either reversibly or irreversibly

AMP (adenosine monophosphate) = a single phosphate, low-energy molecules, often involved in signaling

ADP (adenosine diphosphate) = two phosphates, intermediate energy state, can be converted to ATP

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) = three phosphates, main energy currency of the cell

dATP (deoxyadenosine triphosphate) = similar to ATP but lacks an oxygen in the ribose sugar, used in DNA synthesis

phototroph = uses light as an energy source

chemotroph = uses chemical compounds as an energy source

autotroph = produces its own organic molecules (plants via photosynthesis)

heterotroph = consumes organic molecules for energy (animals and fungi)

catabolic reactions = break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy (cellular respiration)

anabolic reactions = build complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy (protein synthesis, photosynthesis)