unit 2 Flashcards
Define cell metabolism
total set of reactions in a cell
What are metabolic pathways (+ other info)
series of enzyme catalysed reactions within a cell
- integrated meaning diff pathways are inter linked
- may have reversible and irreversible steps
Define anabolic reactions
synthesis reactions that build up small molecules into large molecules and require energy
Define catabolic reactions
degradation reactions that break down large molecules into smaller molecules and release energy
How do membranes allow molecules through
Protein pore allow or restrict the passage of molecules through the membrane
What are protein pumps
move molecules across the membrane and require energy to do this
What do enzymes in membranes do
catalys specific biochemical reactions
How can metabloc reactions be controlled
by the presence or absence of enzymes
or the regulation of key enzyme activity
Define induced fit
how the active site of enzyme may change shape to better fit the substrate as the substrate binds
Describe enzymes affect on activation energy
enzymes lower the activation energy
Substrate molecules have a …. affinity for the ……. which means ….
high affinity for the active site meaning they bind readily
Products have a …. affinity for the …. meaning ….
low affinity for the active site meaning they can leave the active site
As substrate concentration increases …. but ….
the rate of reaction increases but will eventually become constant as it reaches its optimum rate
How to change reversible reactions
the presence of substrate or removal of product can drive a sequence of reactions in a particular direction
What do competitive inhibitors do
bind to an active site preventing the substrate from binding
How can competitive inhibition be reversed
increasing the substrate concentration
What do non competitive inhibitors do
bind away from the active site which has an effect of changing the shape of the active site preventing the substrate from binding
When does feedback inhibition occur
this occurs when the end product of a metabolic pathway reaches a critical concentration
Define feedback inhibition
where the end product inhibits an earlier enzyme in a metabolic pathway which prevents further synthesis of the end product
Define respiration
the breakdown of respiratory substrates to release energy in the form of ATP
Define glycolysis
the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate in the cytoplasm
What are the two phases of glycolysis
the energy investment phase and the and the energy pay off phase
What happens in the energy investment phase
ATP is required to phosphorylate glucose and intermediates
What does phosphorylation in the energy investment phase result in
the generation of more ATP in the energy pay off phase
What is the net gain of ATP in glycolysis
2
What is the end product in glycolysis
pyruvate
What happens in aerobic glycolysis
pyruvate is broken down into an acetyl group
What does acetyl combing with and form (respiration)
combines with coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A
Where does the citric acid cycle take place
in the matrix of the mitochondria
What happens to the acetyl group after it combines with coenzyme A
combines with oxaloacetate to form citrate
What happens to citrate
it is gradually converted back into oxaloacetate in a series of enzyme controlled steps
What is produced/released in the citric acid cycle
produces ATP and releases carbon dioxide
What do dehydrogenase enzymes do
they remove hydrogen ions and electrons from intermediates and pass them to the coenzyme NAD to form NADH
What happens to hydrogen ions and electrons from NADH
passed to the electron transport chain
Where is the electron transport chain located
the inner mitochondrial membrane
What happens when electrons are passed along the electron transport chain
they release energy
What is the electron transport chain
a series of carrier proteins on the inner mitochondrial membrane
What does the energy released in the electron transport chain do
allows hydrogen ions to be pumped across the inner mitochondrial membrane into the space between the inner and outer mitochondrial membrane
How is ATP produced in the electron transport chain
the flow of hydrogen ions through the inner membrane portein ATP synthase
Describe the role of oxygen in respiration
oxygen is the final hydrogen/electron acceptor as it combines with the hydrogen ions and electrons to form water
What is fermentation
occurs in the cytoplasm at the lack of oxygen
Fermentation results in much ….. than aerobic respiration
much less ATP production
What happens to pyruvate in animal cells
it is converted into lactate
this is a reversible reaction
What happens to pyruvate in plants and fungi
it is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide
this is an irreversible reaction
ATP is used to …… which require energy
to transfer energy to processes which require energy