DNA & RNA Flashcards
what is your metabolism?
the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that change food into energy
(all the biochemical reactions that take place within the organism to allow life to be sustained)
what are the two basic processes of metabolism?
catabolism and anabolism
what is catabolism?
breaking down compounds into smaller units
what is anabolism?
building up molecules from smaller units
what is an enzyme?
a type of protein that is responsible for a chemical reaction
what is a substrate?
a molecule that physically binds w a specific enzyme
what is a product?
the substrate after it has already been altered by the enzyme
process of metabolic pathway?
enzymes, substrates, and other substances work together to form chains of chemical reactions.
substrate -> enzyme -> product
what is transport?
mechanisms and structures exist within the cell to transport the protein to its appropriate location
what is storage?
many cells have storage units for certain molecules called vesicles
what are amino acids?
molecules that combine to form proteins
( end in -ine)
what are amino acids made from?
- other more basic compounds
- proteins and enzymes within a cell can be broken down into amino acids
what is a polypeptide chain?
series of amino acid physically linked together
what is a protein?
A molecule made up of amino acids.
(polypeptide chains physically joined together taking on a 3D shape)
what is a gene?
sequence of DNA that contains the blueprint for the manufacture of a polypeptide chain