Chapter 8: Metabolism Flashcards
This deck will assist you in understanding the processes behind metabolism.
What is metabolism?
Is all the chemical reactions that occur in a living organism
What is a metabolic pathway?
Is the journey of a specific molecule as it undergoes reactions to reach the product
What is anabolic pathway?
A process that consumes energy to built complicated molecules; energy is required/consumed
Example: protein synthesis
What is a catabolic pathway?
A process that releases energy by breaking down complex molecules; energy is released
Example: digestion
What is an enzyme?
Are proteins that act as biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions
What is a substrate?
The molecule/s upon which enzymes may act
What do enzymes do?
They convert the substrate into different molecules called products. They can break a molecule apart or combine molecules faster.
Are enzymes part of chemical reactions?
No, they only speed up the reaction.
What is ATP?
Adenosine triphosphate; is the energy-carrying molecule used in cells because it can release energy very quickly.
How does ATP generate energy?
Energy is released from ATP when the end phosphate is removed. Once ATP has released energy, it becomes ADP (adenosine diphosphate), which is a low energy molecule.
What is ATP’s specialty?
Three phosphate groups
