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6.1: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    115064
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    activation energy
    energy necessary for reactions to occur
    active site
    enzyme's specific region to which the substrate binds
    allosteric inhibition
    inhibition by a binding event at a site different from the active site, which induces a conformational change and reduces the enzyme's affinity for its substrate
    anabolic
    (also, anabolism) pathways that require an energy input to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones
    ATP
    adenosine triphosphate, the cell’s energy currency
    bioenergetics
    study of energy flowing through living systems
    catabolic
    (also, catabolism) pathways in which complex molecules break down into simpler ones
    chemical energy
    potential energy in chemical bonds that releases when those bonds are broken
    coenzyme
    small organic molecule, such as a vitamin or its derivative, which is required to enhance an enzyme's activity
    cofactor
    inorganic ion, such as iron and magnesium ions, required for optimal enzyme activity regulation
    competitive inhibition
    type of inhibition in which the inhibitor competes with the substrate molecule by binding to the enzyme's active site
    denature
    process that changes a substance's natural properties
    endergonic
    describes chemical reactions that require energy input
    energy coupling
    process during which energy released by one reaction is used to drive another reaction
    enthalpy
    a system's total energy
    entropy (S)
    measure of randomness or disorder within a system
    exergonic
    describes chemical reactions that release free energy
    feedback inhibition
    a product's effect of a reaction sequence to decrease its further production by inhibiting the first enzyme's activity in the pathway that produces it
    free energy
    Gibbs free energy is the usable energy, or energy that is available to do work
    heat
    energy transferred from one system to another that is not work (energy of the molecules' motion or particles)
    heat energy
    total bond energy of reactants or products in a chemical reaction
    induced fit
    dynamic fit between the enzyme and its substrate, in which both components modify their structures to allow for ideal binding
    kinetic energy
    energy type that takes place with objects or particles in motion
    metabolism
    all the chemical reactions that take place inside cells, including anabolism and catabolism
    phosphoanhydride bond
    bond that connects phosphates in an ATP molecule
    potential energy
    energy type that has the potential to do work; stored energy
    substrate
    molecule on which the enzyme acts
    thermodynamics
    study of energy and energy transfer involving physical matter
    transition state
    high-energy, unstable state (an intermediate form between the substrate and the product) occurring during a chemical reaction

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