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MICRO > Energetics, Enzymes, and Redox > Flashcards

Energetics, Enzymes, and Redox Flashcards

(69 cards)

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1
Q

What is catabolism?

A

Catabolism is the set of metabolic pathways that break down molecules into smaller units to release energy.

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2
Q

What are chemotrophs?

A

Chemotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by the oxidation of electron donors in their environments.

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3
Q

What are chemoorganotrophs?

A

Chemoorganotrophs are a type of chemotroph that obtain energy from organic compounds.

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4
Q

What are chemolithotrophs?

A

Chemolithotrophs are a type of chemotroph that obtain energy from inorganic compounds.

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5
Q

What are some examples of organic chemicals that can be used by microbes as energy sources?

A

Examples include glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids.

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6
Q

What are some examples of inorganic chemicals that can be used by microbes as energy sources?

A

Examples include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and ferrous iron.

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7
Q

What are phototrophs?

A

Phototrophs are organisms that obtain energy from light.

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8
Q

What groups of microbes perform oxygenic photosynthesis?

A

Cyanobacteria, algae, and plants perform oxygenic photosynthesis.

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9
Q

What groups of microbes perform anoxygenic photosynthesis?

A

Green and purple bacteria perform anoxygenic photosynthesis.

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10
Q

What are autotrophs?

A

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food from inorganic substances.

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11
Q

What are heterotrophs?

A

Heterotrophs are organisms that obtain food by consuming other organisms.

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12
Q

Why are autotrophs called primary producers?

A

Autotrophs are called primary producers because they produce organic compounds from carbon dioxide, forming the base of the food chain.

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13
Q

What is energy?

A

Energy is the capacity to do work or to produce change.

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14
Q

What is (Gibbs) free energy (G)?

A

Gibbs free energy is the energy associated with a chemical reaction that can be used to do work.

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15
Q

What are exergonic reactions?

A

Exergonic reactions are reactions that release energy.

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16
Q

What are endergonic reactions?

A

Endergonic reactions are reactions that require energy input.

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17
Q

What is activation energy?

A

Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

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18
Q

What is a catalyst?

A

A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.

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19
Q

How do catalysts increase the rate of a chemical reaction?

A

Catalysts lower the activation energy required for the reaction.

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20
Q

What is an enzyme?

A

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms.

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21
Q

What is a substrate?

A

A substrate is the reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

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22
Q

What is a product?

A

A product is the molecule(s) produced as a result of a chemical reaction.

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23
Q

What is an active site?

A

An active site is the region on an enzyme where the substrate binds.

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24
Q

Why are most enzymes ‘reaction specific’?

A

Most enzymes are reaction specific because their active sites are shaped to fit specific substrates.

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25
What are prosthetic groups?
Prosthetic groups are non-polypeptide units that are tightly and permanently attached to enzymes.
26
What are coenzymes?
Coenzymes are organic molecules that temporarily associate with enzymes to assist in the reaction.
27
How are prosthetic groups and coenzymes different?
Prosthetic groups are permanently attached, while coenzymes are loosely associated and can be reused.
28
Most coenzymes are derived from what?
Most coenzymes are derived from vitamins.
29
How is the enzyme-substrate complex involved in the catalysis of chemical reactions?
The enzyme-substrate complex forms when an enzyme binds to its substrate, facilitating the conversion to product.
30
How can enzymes catalyze endergonic reactions?
Enzymes can couple endergonic reactions with exergonic reactions to drive the process.
31
Can an enzyme catalyze a 'reverse' reaction?
Yes, many enzymes can catalyze both the forward and reverse reactions.
32
What is oxidation?
Oxidation is the process of losing electrons or increasing oxidation state.
33
What is reduction?
Reduction is the process of gaining electrons or decreasing oxidation state.
34
What is an electron donor?
An electron donor is a substance that loses electrons in a chemical reaction.
35
What is an electron acceptor?
An electron acceptor is a substance that gains electrons in a chemical reaction.
36
What is reduction potential?
Reduction potential is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons.
37
What does a negative reduction potential mean?
A negative reduction potential indicates a lower tendency to gain electrons.
38
What does a positive reduction potential mean?
A positive reduction potential indicates a higher tendency to gain electrons.
39
In a redox tower, are the strongest electron donors located toward the top or bottom?
The strongest electron donors are located toward the bottom of the redox tower.
40
How is the difference in reduction potential between the electron donor and the electron acceptor related to the amount of free energy released in the redox reaction?
The greater the difference in reduction potential, the more free energy is released in the reaction.
41
In a redox reaction between two redox couples, which one functions as the electron donor?
The couple with the lower reduction potential functions as the electron donor.
42
What is the strongest electron acceptor used in cells?
The strongest electron acceptor used in cells is oxygen.
43
What is the role of NAD+/NADH in redox reactions?
NAD+ acts as an electron acceptor, while NADH is the reduced form that carries electrons.
44
Which is the oxidized form of NAD+? Which is the reduced form?
NAD+ is the oxidized form, and NADH is the reduced form.
45
How are NADP+/NADPH different from NAD+/NADH?
NADP+/NADPH are used primarily in anabolic reactions, while NAD+/NADH are used in catabolic reactions.
46
What two elements are involved in energy-rich chemical bonds?
Carbon and phosphorus are involved in energy-rich chemical bonds.
47
What is the difference between a phosphoester bond and a phosphoanhydride bond?
A phosphoester bond links a phosphate group to an alcohol, while a phosphoanhydride bond links two phosphate groups. Phosphoanhydride bonds are energy-rich.
48
What are some examples of compounds containing energy-rich bonds?
Examples include ATP, GTP, and phosphocreatine.
49
What is the most important energy-rich phosphate compound in cells?
The most important energy-rich phosphate compound in cells is ATP. Its structure consists of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups.
50
What type of energy-rich bond is found in acetyl-CoA?
Acetyl-CoA contains a thioester bond, which is energy-rich.
51
What are some examples of long-term energy storage polymers used by prokaryotes?
Examples include glycogen and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
52
What are some examples of long-term energy storage polymers used by eukaryotes?
Examples include starch and glycogen.
53
What is maintenance energy?
Maintenance energy is the energy required to maintain basic cellular functions.
54
What is a cell inclusion?
Cell inclusions are storage granules found within cells that store nutrients or other substances.
55
What is the advantage in storing materials in an insoluble form?
Storing materials in an insoluble form prevents osmotic pressure changes in the cell.
56
What exactly is poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB)?
PHB is a type of polyhydroxyalkanoate used by some bacteria as a carbon and energy storage compound.
57
What are poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)?
PHAs are biodegradable polymers produced by various microorganisms as energy storage materials.
58
What is glycogen?
Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi.
59
What are polyphosphate granules?
Polyphosphate granules are storage forms of inorganic phosphate used by cells for energy and metabolism.
60
What can polyphosphate granules be used for?
They can be used for energy storage and as a phosphate source for nucleic acid synthesis.
61
What are sulfur globules?
Sulfur globules are storage forms of elemental sulfur produced by certain bacteria.
62
How are sulfur globules formed?
They are formed during the oxidation of sulfide or thiosulfate by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
63
How are sulfur globules used?
They can be used as an energy source by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
64
Where are sulfur globules located?
They are typically located within the cytoplasm of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
65
What groups of prokaryotes produce sulfur globules?
Sulfur globules are produced by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
66
What is biomineralization?
Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals.
67
Why might the cyanobacterium Gloeomargarita form benstonite granules?
Gloeomargarita may form benstonite granules for carbon storage and to regulate buoyancy.
68
What are magnetosomes?
Magnetosomes are intracellular organelles that contain magnetic iron minerals.
69
What is magnetotaxis?
Magnetotaxis is the movement of organisms in response to a magnetic field.

MICRO (4 decks)

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