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Biochemistry — Metabolism and Enzyme Kinetics

Metabolic pathways, thermodynamics, and enzyme behavior

M
metabolic_map 26 terms Feb 16, 2026
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Terms 26

1
Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG)
ΔG = ΔH − TΔS; spontaneous if ΔG < 0; measures thermodynamic favorability
2
ΔG°'
Standard free energy change at pH 7 (biochemical standard); related to Keq
3
Coupled Reactions
Unfavorable reaction driven by coupling with favorable one (e.g., ATP hydrolysis)
4
ATP Hydrolysis
ΔG°' = −30.5 kJ/mol; highly exergonic; drives biosynthesis and transport
5
Michaelis-Menten Equation
v = Vmax[S] / (Km + [S]); describes enzyme reaction rate as function of substrate concentration
6
Km (Michaelis Constant)
[S] at which v = Vmax/2; lower Km = higher affinity for substrate
7
Vmax
Maximum reaction velocity when enzyme is saturated with substrate
8
kcat (Turnover Number)
Reactions per second per enzyme molecule when saturated; measure of catalytic rate
9
Catalytic Efficiency
kcat/Km; best measure of enzyme performance; upper limit ~10⁸–10⁹ M⁻¹s⁻¹
10
Competitive Inhibition
Inhibitor competes with substrate at active site; increases apparent Km; Vmax unchanged
11
Noncompetitive Inhibition
Inhibitor binds allosteric site; reduces Vmax; Km unchanged
12
Uncompetitive Inhibition
Inhibitor binds only enzyme-substrate complex; reduces both Vmax and Km
13
Allosteric Regulation
Effector binding at site other than active site changes enzyme activity; cooperativity
14
Lineweaver-Burk Plot
Double-reciprocal plot (1/v vs 1/[S]); linearizes Michaelis-Menten; shows inhibition type
15
Glycolysis
10-step pathway converting glucose → 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP + 2 NADH in cytoplasm
16
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex
Multi-enzyme complex converting pyruvate → acetyl-CoA + CO2 + NADH; bridges glycolysis and TCA
17
TCA Cycle (Krebs)
8-step cycle in mitochondrial matrix; per acetyl-CoA: 3 NADH, 1 FADH2, 1 GTP, 2 CO2
18
Oxidative Phosphorylation
ETC transfers electrons to O2; proton gradient drives ATP synthase; yields ~32–34 ATP per glucose
19
Proton Motive Force
Electrochemical gradient across inner mitochondrial membrane driving ATP synthesis
20
Gluconeogenesis
Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors; reverses glycolysis at 3 bypass steps
21
Fatty Acid β-Oxidation
Mitochondrial degradation of fatty acids; each cycle yields 1 NADH, 1 FADH2, 1 acetyl-CoA
22
Fatty Acid Synthesis
Cytoplasmic; uses malonyl-CoA; requires NADPH; acetyl-CoA carboxylase is regulated rate-limiting step
23
Pentose Phosphate Pathway
Produces NADPH (antioxidant, biosynthesis) and ribose-5-phosphate (nucleotide synthesis)
24
Urea Cycle
Liver pathway converting toxic NH3 to urea for excretion; spans mitochondria and cytoplasm
25
Cori Cycle
Lactate from muscles transported to liver for gluconeogenesis; glucose returned to muscles
26
Insulin vs Glucagon
Insulin promotes storage (glycogenesis, lipogenesis); glucagon promotes mobilization (glycogenolysis, lipolysis)