bio 2/17

Importance of Understanding Key Concepts

• Critical knowledge from early weeks is essential for future learning and problem-solving.

Glycogen

• Glycogen is a complex carbohydrate made of glucose strings.

• Other energy sources include fats and proteins.

Redox Reactions

• Defined as oxidation-reduction reactions.

• Oxidation: Loss of electrons.

• Reduction: Gaining of electrons, often involves hydrogen transfer as well.

• Example: Glutathione, a tripeptide, acts as a regulator through its oxidation and reduction process.

Structure and Function of Proteins

• Proteins consist of hundreds to thousands of amino acids; the structure determines function.

• Enzymes: Proteins that catalyze reactions, like carbonic anhydrase, which converts water and CO2 to carbonic acid.

• Enzyme-substrate interactions involve an induced fit phenomenon where substrate binding changes enzyme shape for better specificity.

• Tertiary Structure: Stabilized by disulfide bonds; changes in shape can affect function.

• Denaturation (e.g., cooking eggs or using chemicals for hair treatments) alters protein function.

Enzyme Function and Environmental Factors

• Optimal temperature for enzyme function is around 37°C (98.6°F).

• Enzymes from extremophiles (e.g., Taq polymerase) can function at high temperatures crucial for biotechnological applications (e.g., DNA amplification).

Enzyme Regulation

• Allosteric Regulation: Enzymes can be activated or inhibited by binding at sites other than the active site.

• Competitive inhibitors bind the active site and prevent substrate binding.

• Non-competitive inhibitors alter enzyme shape and function through allosteric sites.

Metabolism and Biological Systems

• Metabolism involves complex pathways where multiple factors can influence the final product.

• Understanding these dynamics is essential for grasping how biological processes operate.