Metabolism Flashcards
Cell metabolism
Term for the thousands of chemical reactions that occur within a living cell, almost all of which require enzymes
Metabolic pathways
Integrated and controlled pathways of enzyme catalysed reactions within a cell
What do metabolic pathways do
Break down large molecules and build up large molecules from small molecules
Catabolic reactions
Break down of complex molecules to simpler ones releasing energy and often providing building blocks.
Proteins ——> amino acids
Anabolic reactions
Bring about the build up of large, complex molecules from smaller molecules, requiring the input of energy.
Amino acids ——> proteins
How will anabolic reactions obtain energy
They will use the energy released from the catabolic reactions
How do enzymes only catalyse one reaction
The enzymes are specific to that substrate
How is the build up of products avoided
Via reversible and irreversible steps for the reaction pathways.
If an enzyme doesn’t work, how can the product still be synthesised
There are alternative routes for the reaction pathways
