1. An Introduction to Metabolism
AP Biology

2. An Introduction to Metabolism
The chemistry of life is organized into metabolic pathways
The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions is called metabolism
Enzymes selectively accelerate each step

3. An Introduction to Metabolism
Catabolic pathways release energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds.
This energy is stored in organic molecules until it needs to do work in the cell.
Anabolic pathways consume energy to build complicated molecules from simpler compounds.
The energy released by catabolic pathways is used to drive anabolic pathways.

4. Organisms transform energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Potential energy is the energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure.

5. Organisms transform energy
Energy can be converted from one form to another.
Problem: A waiter walks across the room, turns on a switch and the light comes on.
How is energy converted? How is photosynthesis and respiration involved?

6. Are organisms opened or closed systems? Explain
The energy transformations of life are subject to two laws of thermodynamics
1st Law – Energy is conserved
2nd Law – Energy transformations cause disorder
Are organisms opened or closed systems? Explain

7. Entropy is a quantity used as a measure of disorder, or randomness.
Organisms live at the expense of free energy
Free energy is the portions of a system’s energy that is able to perform work when temperature is uniform throughout the system

8. Endergonic Reactions
An endergonic reaction is one that absorbs free energy from its surroundings.
 G is positive
If cellular respiration releases 686 kcal, then photosynthesis, the reverse reaction, must require an equivalent investment of energy
 G = kcal / mol

9. Exergonic Reactions
An exergonic reaction proceeds with a net release of free energy and  G (Change in Free Energy) is negative
For the overall reaction of cellular respiration:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O
 G = -686 kcal/mol

11. ATP powers cellular work
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a type of nucleotide consisting of the nitrogenous base adenine, the sugar ribose, and a chain of three phosphate groups.
Hydrolysis of the end phosphate group forms adenosine diphosphate [ATP -> ADP + Pi] and releases 7.3 kcal of energy per mole of ATP under standard conditions.  

12. ATP/ADP Cycle
ATP is a renewable resource that is continually regenerated by adding a phosphate group to ADP

14. Check Yourself Questions
What is the difference between a catabolic reaction and anabolic reaction?
How does the 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamic relate to living organisms?
Why is ATP important to metabolism?
Describe the ATP-ADP process.
How is the 2nd law of thermodynamics related to evolution

15. Enzymes
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up metabolic reactions by lowering energy barriers
A catalyst is a chemical agent that changes the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction

16. All reactions must absorb energy in order to move from reactant to product
The amount of free energy absorbed is called the activation energy (EA)

17. Reaction with enzyme present!!

18. Enzymes are substrate specific
Substrate – a reactant that binds to an enzyme
Active Site – a pocket or groove on the surface of the enzyme in which the substrate fits
Induced fit – As the substrate binds, the enzyme changes shape leading to a tighter fit

19. Enzyme Induced Fit Model

20. Mechanism used by enzymes to speed up reactions:
The active site orients and binds substrates in the correct orientation for the reaction.
R groups create a conducive environment
Enzymes can form covalent bonds with the substrate in an intermediate step

21. Check Yourself Questions
Define the following terms:
Catalyst, Active site, substrate, induced fit
What are the first and second laws of thermodynamics?
What is the difference between an anabolic reaction and a catabolic reaction?
What is the difference between endergonic exergonic reaction? Is  G positive or negative for each?

23. A cells physical and chemical environment affects enzyme activity
Some conditions lead to the most active conformation and lead to optimal reaction rates.
Some conditions hinder enzyme activity

24. Environmental factors
Temperature pH
Concentration of the enzyme
Salt Concentration
Activators and Inhibitors

25. Other factors that affect enzymes
Coenzymes – vitamins or other organic molececule(non-protein enzyme helpers)
Inhibitors – competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors block substrate binding

26. Enzyme Inhibition

27. The control of metabolism
Allosteric Regulation – In many cases, the molecules that naturally regulate enzyme activity behave like reversible noncompetitive inhibitors.
These molecules often bind weakly to an allosteric site, a specific receptor on the enzyme that is not the active site.

29. The control of metabolism
One of the common methods of metabolic control is feedback inhibition in which a metabolic pathway is turned off by its end product.
The end product acts as an inhibitor.

30. Feedback Inhibition
When the product is abundant the pathway is turned off, when the product is rare it is active.

31. Check Yourself Questions
Describe the induced fit model.
What is the substrate and active site?
What environmental factors help to control the reaction of enzymes?
How are coenzymes different than inhibitors?
Describe the different types of inhibitors.