Ch. 8: Microbial metabolism Flashcards
(130 cards)
enzymes are mostly composed of :
proteins
what do enzymes speed up?
rate of cellular reactions
[they lower activation energy required]
metabolism
all the biochemical reactions that occur in a cell or organism
anabolism
-forming covalent bonds
-usually with energy/ATP
Ch 8: definition- AKA biosynthesis; larger molecules are built from smaller ones, which results in formation of cell structure
catabolism
chemical breakdown of complex compounds into simpler units to be used in cell metabolism
[larger molecules are degraded or broken down into smaller molecules, usually with release of energy].
enzyme
a protein biocatalyst that facilitates metabolic reactions
[a catalyst- chemical that increases rate of a chemical reaction without becoming part of the products or being consumed in the reaction].
substrate
the specific molecule upon which an enzyme acts
active site
the specific region on an apoenzyme that binds substrate; the site for reaction catalysis. [catalytic site]
holoenzyme
[conjugated enzyme]
an enzyme complete with its apoenzyme and cofactors
-fully assembled, conjugated enzyme
apoenzyme
the protein part of a conjugated enzyme (as opposed to nonprotein or inorganic cofactors)
-the biggest part of an enzyme
-has primary, secondary, tertiary, sometimes quaternary structure
Cofactors
an enzyme accessory; the NON protein part of conjugated enzyme
-can be organic like coenzymes
or organic like: Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, or other metallic ions
exoenzymes
an extracellular enzyme chiefly used to hydrolyze nutrient macromolecules that cannot readily enter the cell; this enzyme is secreted into the environment, where it may function in saprobic decomposition of organic debris or support the invasion of tissues by pathogens
endoenzymes
an intracellular enzyme that functions primarily within the cell compartment, as opposed to enzymes that are secreted
constitutive enzyme
An enzyme present in bacterial cells in constant amounts, regardless of the presence of substrate
ex) enzymes of the central catabolic pathways
labile
molecules or compounds that are chemically unstable in the presence of environmental changes
-sensitive
denature
the loss of normal characteristics (shape, configuration) resulting from some molecular alteration; used in reference to loss of normal activity by proteins when their 3D structure has been altered by heat or chemicals
condensation reaction
type of chemical reaction in which two molecules are combined to form a single molecule
[forming a glycosidic bond between 2 glucose molecules to generate maltose- requires the removal of a water molecule]
hydrolysis reaction
a reaction in which one molecule breaks apart to form multiple smaller molecules.
[breaking a peptide bond between 2 amino acids requires a water molecule that adds OH to one amino acid and H to another].
rate-limiting step
the slowest step out of all the steps that occur for a given chemical reaction
redox reactions
reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from one species to another.
electron carrier
small organic molecules involved in the transfer or shuttling of electrons from one molecule to another
substrate-level phosphorylation
a mechanism of ATP formation involving the transfer of a phosphate from a donor molecule to ADP to form ATP.
oxidative phosphorylation
uses the energy derived from a series of redox reactions to drive an enzyme called ATP synthase [enzyme that makes ATP]
ATP synthase-final culminating enzyme and aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration— Respiratory chain
Using ATP synthase to make ATP from free floating ADP in an organic phosphate
proton motive force
the force that promotes movement of protons across membranes downhill the electrochemical potential.