The roles of ATP in living cells and the mechanisms of production of ATP Flashcards
(102 cards)
What is anabolism?
- simple molecules put together to form complex molecules
- complex molecules will then be stored as energy
- think A = Adding molecules together
What do anabolism terms end in?
- genesis
- e.g. glycogenesis (glucose to glycogen)
What is an example of anabolism?
- glycogenesis (glucose into glycogen)
What is catabolism?
- breakdown of complex molecules into simple molecules
- think C for catabolism = Cut up molecules
What is an example of catabolism?
- glycogen to pyruvate
What do all terms used to describe catabolism end in?
- lysis
what is catabolims and anabolims together referred to as?
- metabolism
What “currency” is used when a catabolic reaction releases something which is captured and used later in anabolic reactions?
Energy is release which can be stored as adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

If organisms do not work to produce energy what will happen to them?
- they will die
What are a few examples of how energy is requried in the body?
- muscle contraction
- ions/molecules transport across membranes
- biosynthesis of essential metabolites, growth and replace damaged cells
- thermoregulation
Energy in the body, called free energy must come from somewhere, where is this?
- nutrients that we consume.
What is Gibbs Free Energy?
- thermodynamic calculation
- used to calculate the maximum reversible work that may be performed by a thermodynamic system at a constant temperature and pressure.
There are 3 parts to Gibbs Free Energy, what is enthalpy?
- the heat content of the reacting system
- referred to as H
There are 3 parts to Gibbs Free Energy, what is entropy?
- the randomness or disorder in a system
- referred to as S
There are 3 parts to Gibbs Free Energy, what is Gibbs Free Energy?
- energy capable of doing work at constant temperature and pressure
- referred to as G
In cells what does the change in enthalpy (/_H)_ relate to?
- types and numbers of chemical bonds broken and formed
In cells if the change in enthalpy (_/_H) is positive (+ve) is this an endothermic or exothermic reaction? A positive change in energy indicates that energy is required to produce something. Ball rolling down or up a slide for example:
- ball rolling down = reduced enthalpy (energy released from glucose through breaking the bonds of glucose)
- ball rolling back up = increased enthalpy (energy required to make bonds, such as glucose to glycogen)
- endothermic (anabolism = adding/building)
- energy has to be invested to make new bonds
In cells what does the change in entropy (_/_S) refer to?
- describes the formation of large complex molecules from smaller molecules or vice versa
- (e.g. DNA formation/protein formation)
In cells a postive (+ve) change in entropy (_/_S) refer to what?
- when randomness increases (i.e. breaking up a big molecule to smaller molecules)
- breaking fown glucose into ATP
What is the formula for determining change in gibbs free energy?
- _/_G = _/_H - T x _/_S
- _/_G = Change in Gibbs Free Energy
- _/_H = Change in enthalpy
- _/_S = Change in entropy
When we are looking at Gibbs Free Energy, if a random reaction is to occur, what must the _/_G (Change in Gibbs Free Energy be?
- negative (i.e. energy is released by the reaction)
- also referred to as an exergonic reaction
- catabolic reactions release energy
What is an exergonic reaction in thermodynamics?
- a chemical reaction where the change in the free energy is negative (there is a net release of free energy)
- reactants are turned into products

Following an exergonic reaction in thermodynamics, do products or reactants have more energy?
- reactants
- products become more stable than the reactants because the energy has been released
- formation of product is “downhill” (spontaneous)
An example of an exergonic reaction is breaking down (burning) glucose into pyruvate, is this a anabolic or catabolic reaction?
- catabolic
- releasing energy































