Metabolism Flashcards
(50 cards)
What is ATP?
Is used by cells of all living organisms as a source of energy
Name a few processes that involves ATP:
Active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis, DNA replication, protein synthesis, polysaccharides in cell division, muscle contraction 
Cells can’t get energy directly from glucose so?
In respiration, the energy released from glucose is used to make a molecule called ATP, which stores energy temporarily
How is ATP made?
When energy released from respiration is used to add a phosphate ion to adenosine diphosphate ADP by condensation. The energy is stored temporarily in bonds between the phosphate groups in ATP molecule.
What is the equation for ATP synthesis?
ADP + PI + energy = ATP
How is ATP broken down?
Energy is released when ATP is broken down into ADP and PI by hydrolysis of a phosphate bond
What is the equation for ATP breakdown?
ATP = ADP + pi + energy
ATP hydrolysis is catalysed by what?
The enzyme ATP hydrolase
What ensures that the energy released from ATP hydrolysis is used directly in the in a reaction, rather than being lost as heat
It can be coupled to other reactions in a cell, which require energy 
Why is ATP a good energy source?
Energy is released in a single reaction
Energy is released in small amounts to prevent cell damage
ATP is soluble
Why is rate of ATP production very high?
ATP is unstable
ATP cannot be stored because it is immediate source of energy
ATP only releases small amounts if energy at a time. The energy from ATP is needed for lots of biological processes, so ATP is in high demand. 
Why are enzymes called biological catalysts?
Because they speed up chemical reactions without being used up
Molecules used of an enzyme reactions are called
Substrates
Enzymes which catalyse reactions inside cells are called?
Intracellular enzymes
Enzyme is it to catalyse reactions outside of cells are called?
Extracellular enzymes
Enzymes are specific meaning what?
Each enzyme catalyses a reaction involving only one type of substrate
Enzymes specificity is directly related to enzyme 3-D tertiary structure, because?
Enzymes contain a small pocket called active site which has a very specific shape and only substrates with the correct complimentary shape to the active site can fit into the active site
What does the induced fit model suggest?
Enzymes active site is not fully complimentary until a substrate fits into it causing the enzyme to change shape so its active site wraps are on the substrate more closely
What do enzyme reactions involve?
Random collisions between enzymes in substrate to form enzyme substrate complex. Is it
What increases the rate of enzyme reactions?
Increase in enzyme concentration
Increase in substrate concentration
Increase in temperature 
How does an enzyme becomes a denatured?
High temperatures, extremes of pH and noncompetitive inhibitor‘s all change the 3D tertiary structure, so change the shape of an enzyme. If the shape of the enzymes active site site changes too much it stops working 
What are competitive inhibitors?
Molecules of a similar shape to an enzymes normal substrate. They slowdown enzyme catalysed reactions by binding to an enzymes active site, blocking the entry of a normal substrate.
What is an active site?
A small part of an enzyme is 3D tertiary structure into which is substrate molecule fits. It has a very specific shape and only substrates of the correct complimentary shape to the active site can fit into the active site
what is activation energy?
Is the level of energy required to enable reactions take place enzymes reduce the reaction activation energy needed for reactions take place so that the reactions can take place at much lower temperatures