Biology Chapter 5 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the active site of an enzyme?

The area where energy is stored

The site of enzyme synthesis

The part of an enzyme where a substrate molecule attaches (correct)

The region where products are collected

What is active transport?

The movement of a substance across a membrane against its concentration gradient requiring energy.

What does ATP stand for?

Adenosine triphosphate.

What is the function of an aquaporin?

Facilitates the diffusion of water across the membrane. Signup and view all the answers

Define cellular respiration.

The aerobic harvesting of energy from food molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is chemical energy?

Energy available in molecules for release in a chemical reaction. Signup and view all the answers

What is a coenzyme?

An organic molecule serving as a cofactor. Signup and view all the answers

What role does a cofactor play?

Required for the proper functioning of an enzyme. Signup and view all the answers

What does a competitive inhibitor do?

Reduces enzyme activity by binding to the active site. Signup and view all the answers

What is a concentration gradient?

An increase or decrease in the density of a chemical substance in an area. Signup and view all the answers

Define diffusion.

The tendency of a substance to move down its concentration gradient. Signup and view all the answers

What is an endergonic reaction?

An energy-requiring chemical reaction yielding products with more potential energy. Signup and view all the answers

What is endocytosis?

Cellular uptake of molecules via vesicles from the plasma membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What is energy?

The capacity to perform work or rearrange matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is energy coupling?

The use of energy from one reaction to drive another reaction. Signup and view all the answers

Define entropy.

A measure of disorder within a system. Signup and view all the answers

What is an enzyme?

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What does an exergonic reaction do?

Releases energy from reactants to products. Signup and view all the answers

What is exocytosis?

Movement of materials out of a cell via vesicles fusing with the membrane. Signup and view all the answers

Describe facilitated diffusion.

The passage of substances through specific proteins down their concentration gradient. Signup and view all the answers

What is feedback inhibition?

A method of metabolic control where a product inhibits an enzyme. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fluid mosaic?

A description of membrane structure with diverse proteins in a fluid bilayer. Signup and view all the answers

Define heat in a biological context.

Thermal energy associated with atomic and molecular movement. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Enzymatic and Cellular Mechanisms

Active Site: Location on an enzyme where a substrate binds, allowing for chemical reactions to occur.
Enzyme: Proteins or RNA that act as biological catalysts, accelerating chemical reactions without being consumed.
Competitive Inhibitor: Mimics substrate and binds to the active site, blocking enzyme activity.

Transport Mechanisms

Active Transport: Movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy (often ATP) and specific transport proteins.
Facilitated Diffusion: Involves specific transport proteins to move substances across membranes along their concentration gradient.
Endocytosis: Process of cellular uptake by forming vesicles from the plasma membrane.
Exocytosis: Release of materials from a cell via vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane.

Energy and Metabolism

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): Primary energy carrier in cells.
Cellular Respiration: Aerobic process that converts food molecules into usable energy, involving glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Energy Coupling: Utilizing energy released from exergonic reactions to fuel endergonic reactions.
Chemical Energy: Potential energy stored in molecules, released during chemical reactions.
Exergonic Reaction: Energy-releasing reaction where products have less potential energy than reactants.
Endergonic Reaction: Energy-consuming reaction that yields products with higher potential energy.

Concentration and Gradients

Concentration Gradient: Variation in chemical substance density across areas, influencing substance movement.
Diffusion: Spontaneous process where substances move from areas of high concentration to low concentration.

Thermodynamics and Entropy

First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy conservation principle; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Entropy: Measure of disorder; associated with energy transformations, particularly heat as random molecular motion.

Biochemical Factors and Control

Coenzyme: Organic molecule that functions as a cofactor, often derived from vitamins, essential for enzymatic activity.
Cofactor: Nonprotein molecule or ion necessary for enzyme function.
Feedback Inhibition: Self-regulatory mechanism where the end product of a pathway inhibits an earlier enzyme, controlling metabolic processes.

Biological Membranes

Fluid Mosaic Model: Describes the dynamic structure of cellular membranes, comprised of diverse proteins in a flexible phospholipid bilayer.

Heat

Heat: Form of thermal energy associated with molecular movement; represents energy in its most random state.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms from Biology Chapter 5. Each card includes definitions for concepts such as active sites and active transport, essential for understanding enzyme functions and cellular processes. Perfect for students preparing for exams.