Bio Notes 9/29/15

Chapter 8: Metabolism
Look over Enzyme Lab for Next week!
Cell extracts energy stored in sugars and other fuels and applies energy to perform
work
Energylight (example bioluminescence)
Organic molecules
Organisms metabolism transforms matter and energy, subject to the laws of
thermodynamics
-Metabolism-totality of an organisms chemical reactions
-Metabolic pathway begins with a specific molecule and ends with a product,
each step catalyzed by a specific enzyme
-catabolic pathways release energy by breaking down complex molecules
into simpler compounds
- Cellular respiration, breakdown of glucose in the presence of
oxygen
-Compare to hydrolysis
Anabolic Pathways consume energy to build complex molecules from
simpler ones
-synthesis of protein from amino acids
Bioenergetics is the study of how energy flows through living organisms
Energy is the capacity to cause change
Kinetic Energy is energy associated with motion
Heat (Thermal Energy) is kinetic energy associated with random
movement of atoms or molecules
Potential Energy- energy that matter possesses because of its
location or structure
-Height
-Covalent bonds
Chemical Energy- potential energy available for release in a chemical
reaction
-Food is chemical energy
Thermodynamics is the study of energy transformations
Isolated system-unable to exchange energy or matter with its surroundings
-thermos cup
Open system- energy and matter can be transferred between system and
surroundings
-organisms, cells are not in equilibrium they are open systems
experiencing a constant flow of materials
First law of thermodynamics
Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot
be created or destroyed (Principle of Conservation of Energy)
Second law of thermodynamics

Every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy

(disorder) or the universe
We try to minimize this disorder
Spontaneous processes occur without energy input, they can happen quickly or
slowly
For a process to occur without energy input, it must increase the entropy of the
universe
Cells create ordered structures from less ordered materials
They also replace ordered forms of matter and energy with less ordered forms
Energy flows into an ecosystem in the form of light and exits in the form of heat
Test of Sea Urchin and Lotus plant has high level of order
The free energy change of a reaction tells us whether or not the reaction occurs
spontaneously, scientists need to determine energy changes that occur in chemical
reactions
Exergonic reaction proceeds with a net release of free energy and is
spontaneous, delta G -ve
Endergonic reaction absorbs free energy from its surroundings and is
nonspontaneous delta G +ve
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate-ribose sugar, nitrogenous base, three
phosphate groups) powers cellular work by coupling exergonic reactions to
endergonic reactions
-A cell does three main kinds of work: chemical (MonomersPolymers), transport
(Flagellum cilia, across a membrane), mechanical (muscle contraction)
-To do work, cells manage energy resources by energy coupling, the use of an
exergonic reaction to drive an endergonic reaction
Hydrolysis of ATP (break bonds between phosphate groups of ATPs tail) Energy,
chemical change to state of lower energy leads to a change in protein shape and
binding ability some molecules bind to these new proteins
ATP drives endergonic reactions by phosphorylation, addition of a phosphate
group. Renewable resource
The recipient molecule is not called a phosphorylated intermediate
Enzymes speed up metabolic reactions by lowering energy barriers
A catalyst is a chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being consumed
by the reaction (so they can be used over and over again)
Enzyme-catalytic protein, usually ase
-Peroxidase found in blood, in the presence of H2O2, H2O and O2
forms, high levels of O2 kills bacteria and germs
*not all catalysts are enzymes, not all proteins are enzymes*
The initial energy needed to start a chemical reaction is called the free energy of
activation or activation energy (Ea)
Catalysts lowers the Ea, but does not change the free energy
The reactant that an enzyme acts on is called the enzymes substrate
The enzyme binds to its substrate, forming an enzyme-substrate complex
In Sucrase, sucrose is the substrate

The active site is the region on the enzyme where the substrate binds- depends on
shape, polarity, and weak interactions
This changes the molecules and the substrates shape
The active site can lower an Ea barrier by
-Orienting substrates correctly
-Straining substrate bonds
-Providing a favorable microenvironment
-Covalently bonding to the substrate
When enzyme is boiled, active site is reshaped because of denaturation, so
catalyst might not work
An enzymes activity can be affect by:
-general environmental factors such as temperature and pH
-Each enzyme has an optimal temperature and pH it can function in,
optimal conditions favor the most active shape for the enzyme molecule
-Chemicals that specifically influence the enzyme
Enzyme Inhibitors-Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of an enzyme, competing
with the substrate for the active site
-Noncompetitive inhibitors bind to another part of an enzyme causing
the protein/enzyme to change shape and making the active sit less effective to bind
with by the substrate