Finishing Energetics Flashcards
What is energy coupling?
One reaction generates energy, driving the other reaction that needs energy
In what two ways can energy coupling happen?
High-energy bonds broken (releasing energy)
- breaking phosphate bonds
Transfer of high-energy electrons (moving electrons around)
- redox reactions
Why is ATP so high energy?
Because oxygen has a high electron affinity. Each phosphate group has several oxygens around it that tend to hold the electrons more closely to themselves, resulting in a negative charge. These negative charges with to repel each other. Because the bond only allows them to get so far from one another, they act like a compressed spring, holding a lot of potential energy.
What is the energy currency of the cell?
Is it made of pure energy?
ATP is the energy currency.
NO! ATP is simply an energy carrier.
How does NAD+ reduction take place?
Enzyme I takes up the electron donating substrate and NAD+.
It puts those together and releases the reduced NADH and oxidized product.
The NADH can then be used in Enzyme II along with a substrate.
Enzyme II causes the reaction and the oxidized NAD+ is released along with a reduced product.
Then NAD+ is free to start the cycle again
