MICROBIAL METABOLISM CH 10 Flashcards
Metabolism
A broad term relating to the reactions and chemical workings of a cell (catabolic and anabolic reactions)
Catabolic
Breaking molecules down; releases energy
(cats break things down)
(remember that breaking down releases energy because when ATP is broken down it releases energy)
Anabolic
Building molecules up; requires energy
This group of macromolecules usually end in -ase
Enzymes
What is the function of enzymes and how do they work in reactions?
They speed up reactions lowering the activation energy (the energy required for the reaction to take place)
Catalyst
An enzyme that speeds up reactions without changing the reaction
Can enzymes be used in disease?
Pathogens can secrete enzymes to modify host cells (break things down)
How do enzymes work?
Enzymes take substrates (reactant) and it binds to the active site where it modifies the substrate to create a product
This could be taking multiple substrates and putting them together to make one product (anabolism)
OR
taking a single substrate and breaking it down to form multiple products (catabolism)
Oxidation vs Reduction; what is the broad term used to describe these reactions
REDOX REACTIONS
Oxidation is losing electrons
Reduction is gaining electrons
(OIL RIG)
What enzyme do redox reactions use? How does it work?
Oxidoreductase works by transferring electrons from one molecule to another
T/F: Oxidation is the gain of electrons
False;
Oxidation is losing electrons
Metabolic pathways require _____ to catalyze each step
Enzymes
The following are examples of:
NAD > NADH
FAD > FADH2
NADP > NADPH
Reduction reactions
Aerobic vs Anaerobic Metabolism
Aerobic Metabolism - Oxygen is the final electron acceptor (forms water)
Anaerobic Metabolism - Final electron acceptor is something other than ozygen; (NO3-, SO42-, CO32-)
How does energy move?
With the flow of electrons;
the more electrons a molecule has the more energy it has