UNIT1 METABOLISM LEVEL2 STANDARD

Apuntes

•[ENZYMES] Enzymes are globular proteins that act as biological catalysts, accelerating chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required. They are not consumed in the reactions they catalyze and can be reused. Enzymes are typically named after their substrates, ending with the suffix ‘-ase’ (e.g., lipase for lipids, protease for proteins). •[METABOLISM] Metabolism encompasses all chemical processes within a cell necessary for life, providing energy and enabling the synthesis of cellular materials. Metabolic reactions are categorized as anabolic or catabolic. Anabolic reactions, such as photosynthesis, involve the synthesis of larger compounds from smaller ones, releasing water as a by-product. Catabolic reactions, like cellular respiration, break down larger compounds into smaller ones, requiring water and releasing energy. •[SPECIFICITY AND MECHANISM] Enzymes exhibit specificity through an active site that fits a particular substrate, following the 'lock and key' or 'induced fit' models. The induced fit model allows for conformational changes that enhance substrate binding and reactivity. Enzyme reactions occur in aqueous solutions, relying on molecular motion for ...