metabolism
totality of an organism’s chemical reactions
metabolic pathway
begins with specific molecule, resulting in a certain product
catabolic pathways (breakdown pathways)
release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds
anabolic pathways
consume energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones
energy
capacity to cause change
KE
energy can be associated with relative motion of objects
thermal energy
KE associated with random movement of atoms and molecules
heat
thermal energy in transfer from one object to another
PE
energy that isnt KE that matter possess because of its location/structure
chemical energy
refer to PE available for release in chemical reaction
thermodynamics
study of energy transformations that occur on nature
entropy
measure of disorder/randomness
spontaneous process
leads to an increase in entropy, that process can proceed without requiring an input of energy
free energy
portion of a system’s energy that can perform work when temp. + pressure are uniform throughout system
exergonic
energy released
endergoinc
energy required
energy coupling
use of an exergonic process to drive an endergoinc one
phosphoylated intermediate
recipient molecule with phosphorous group covalently bonded to it
catalyst
chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being consumed by reaction
substrate
reactant an enzyme acts on
active site
typically a pocket/groove on the surface of the enzyme where catalysis occurs
cofactors
nonprotein enzyme helpers such as minerals
coenzyme
cofactor is an organic molecule
competitive inhibitors
reduce productivity of enzymes by blocking substrates from entering active sites
