Metabolic Pathways Flashcards
What name is given to reactions that build up large molecules from small molecules and require energy?
Anabolic
What name is given to reactions that break down large molecules into smaller ones and energy is released?
Catabolic
What control metabolic pathways?
Enzymes
What name is given to describe the changing shape of an active site after the substrate binds?
induced fit
Describe the affinity a substrate has to the enzymes active site.
High affinity
Describe the affinity the product has to the enzymes active site.
Low affinity
Which part of an enzyme does a competitive inhibitor bind?
The active site
How can you reverse (reduce the effect of) competitive inhibition?
Increase the concentration of the substrate
Which part of an enzyme does a non-competitive inhibitor bind?
Not the active site, allosteric site
How does a non-competitive inhibitor affect the enzyme?
It alters the shape of the enzymes active site
What happens when you increase the concentration of substrate with a non-competitive inhibitor?
Absolutely nothing!
Describe end product inhibition.
When the end product in the metabolic pathway reaches critical concentration, this inhibits an earlier enzymes blocking the pathway, prevents further synthesis of the end product.
What term is used to describe all the chemical reactions that take place within a cell?
Metabolism
3 reasons why enzymes are described as biological catalysts?
- Found inside living cells
- Speed up chemical reactions
- Are not used up during the reaction
What do we call the energy needed to get reactants to be unstable and change the substrate into the product?
Activation energy
What do we call it when the bonds within a reactant are unstable and the substrate is just about to change into the product?
Transition state
How does an enzyme speed up a chemical reaction?
It lowers the activation energy needed by the reactant to form the transition state.
What are enzymes made from?
Protein
What name is given when a pathway takes a different series of steps to end up with the same end product?
alternative route/pathway
What is it called when metabolite A can ONLY be turned into metabolite B?
irreversible
What is it called when metabolite A can be turned into metabolite B AND turned from B to A?
reversible
State 2 things about a catabolic reaction.
break down and release energy
State 2 things about an anabolic reaction.
build up require energy
What term is used to describe the condition at which an enzyme is most active?
Optimum
What is the optimum temperature for enzymes?
37-40oC
What is the optimum pH for enzymes?
It depends
What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?
It denatures
What term is used to describe the fact that one enzyme will only work on one substrate?
specific
What can cause a reversible reaction to reverse?
When the concentration of product is higher than the concentration of substrate.
