Definition of Metabolism:
Metabolism consists of a series of steps in the form of a cycle or a chain of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, also known as metabolic pathways. It is the process through which energy is obtained in the form of ATP from the food we ingest.
Enzymes and Activation Energy
Enzymes lower the activation energy of the chemical reactions that they catalyze
Chemical reactions are not single-step processes. Substrates have to undergo a process of transition before they are converted into products. The energy required to reach the transition state is called the activation energy, and it is used to break or weaken bonds in the substrates.
Once the enzyme catalyzes the reaction, the substrate binds to the active site of the enzyme and is altered into the product. Then it separates from the active site, lowering the overall energy level of the transition state, and thus the activation energy is reduced.
Metabolism consists of a series of steps in the form of a cycle or a chain of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, also known as metabolic pathways. It is the process through which energy is obtained in the form of ATP from the food we ingest.
Enzymes and Activation Energy
Enzymes lower the activation energy of the chemical reactions that they catalyze
Chemical reactions are not single-step processes. Substrates have to undergo a process of transition before they are converted into products. The energy required to reach the transition state is called the activation energy, and it is used to break or weaken bonds in the substrates.
Once the enzyme catalyzes the reaction, the substrate binds to the active site of the enzyme and is altered into the product. Then it separates from the active site, lowering the overall energy level of the transition state, and thus the activation energy is reduced.
Enzyme Inhibitors
Enzyme inhibitors are chemical substances that bind to the enzymes and reduce its overall activity. That is where their name comes from. The two main types are
- Competitive inhibitors: they interfere with the active site so that the substrate does not bind to the enzyme. The substrate and the inhibitor are chemically very similar
- Non-competitive inhibitors: they bind to another location of the enzyme and change its shape so that the substrate cannot bind in the active site. The substrate and the inhibitor are not similar
Enzyme inhibitors are chemical substances that bind to the enzymes and reduce its overall activity. That is where their name comes from. The two main types are
- Competitive inhibitors: they interfere with the active site so that the substrate does not bind to the enzyme. The substrate and the inhibitor are chemically very similar
- Non-competitive inhibitors: they bind to another location of the enzyme and change its shape so that the substrate cannot bind in the active site. The substrate and the inhibitor are not similar
Effects on enzyme inhibitors
End Product Inhibition
•When the end product is formed in excess, the excess products interact with enzymes at the beginning of the pathway, thus decreasing enzyme activity
•Negative feedback = the rate of the process decreases as the concentration of the product increases.
•When the end product is formed in excess, the excess products interact with enzymes at the beginning of the pathway, thus decreasing enzyme activity
•Negative feedback = the rate of the process decreases as the concentration of the product increases.
Theory of Knowledge: Many metabolic pathways have been described following a series of carefully controlled and repeated experiments. To what degree can looking at component parts give us knowledge of the whole?
As it is mentioned in this section, metabolic pathways are not a one-step reaction, unlikely, there are many different types of metabolic reactions and each one can be more complex than other. Knowing the different steps of each reaction in detail could help to have a better understanding of the cycle or chain of the reaction itself. Having in depth information about the components that form the metabolic pathway will let a person have much more knowledge than if he/she only knew the basics of the pathway.
As it is mentioned in this section, metabolic pathways are not a one-step reaction, unlikely, there are many different types of metabolic reactions and each one can be more complex than other. Knowing the different steps of each reaction in detail could help to have a better understanding of the cycle or chain of the reaction itself. Having in depth information about the components that form the metabolic pathway will let a person have much more knowledge than if he/she only knew the basics of the pathway.