Chapter 6 Energy and Metabolism

CH6 Bonus topics: Laws of Thermodynamics kilocalories and calories pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

Energy Currency of Cells

ATP = adenosine triphosphate the energy currency of cells ATP structure: ribose, a 5-carbon sugar adenine three phosphates

ATP stores energy in the bonds between phosphates. Phosphates are highly negative, therefore: the phosphates repel each other much energy is required to keep the phosphates bound to each other much energy is released when the bond between two phosphates is broken When the bond between phosphates is broken: ATP ADP + Pi energy is released ADP = adenosine diphosphate Pi = inorganic phosphate This reaction is reversible.

Most reactions require some energy to get started. activation energy: extra energy needed to get a reaction started
destabilizes existing chemical bonds

catalysts: substances that lower the activation energy of a reaction

Enzymes:
molecules that catalyze reactions in living cells most are proteins* lower the activation energy required for a reaction are not changed or consumed by the reaction enzymes interact with substrates substrate: molecule that will undergo a reaction active site: region of the enzyme that binds to the substrate binding of an enzyme to a substrate causes the enzyme to change shape, producing a better induced fit between the molecules

*ribozymes: RNA with enzymatic abilities

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Catalytic cycle of an enzyme example: hydolysis of sucrose by sucrase

Enzyme function
is affected by its environment factors that can change an enzymes 3-dimensional shape can change its function
for example, pH, temperature, regulatory molecules

temp optimum too far above the temp optimum can denature the enzyme, destroying its function most enzymes prefer pH values from 6 to 8

Regulatory molecules
Inhibitors molecules that bind to an enzyme to decrease enzyme activity competitive inhibitors compete with the substrate for binding to the same active site noncompetitive inhibitors bind to sites other than the enzymes active site

Allosteric enzymes exist in either an active or inactive state

possess an allosteric site where molecules other than the substrate bind allosteric inhibitors bind to the allosteric site to inactivate the enzyme allosteric activators bind to the allosteric site to activate the enzyme

Metabolism stuff
Metabolism: all chemical reactions occurring in an organism Anabolism: chemical reactions that expend energy to make new chemical bonds Catabolism: chemical reactions that harvest energy when bonds are broken Some enzymes need help (require additional molecules for proper enzymatic activity) such as: cofactors: usually metal ions, found in the active site participating in catalysis coenzymes: non-protein organic molecules, often used as an electron donor or acceptor in a redox reaction
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Biochemical pathways
series of reactions in which the product of one reaction becomes the substrate for the next reaction

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Biochemical pathways are often regulated by feedback inhibition in which the end product of the pathway is an allosteric inhibitor of an earlier enzyme in the pathway

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