#AP Biology Study Guide: Enzymes and Metabolism

Hey there, future AP Bio ace! Let's break down enzymes and metabolism. This guide is designed to make sure you're feeling confident and ready to crush your exam. Let's get started!

#The Central Role of Enzymes in Living Systems

Living systems are incredibly complex, with constant activity happening at the molecular level. This includes processes like metabolism, growth, and reproduction. All of these require a constant input of energy and exchange of macromolecules. Enzymes are the key players in keeping these processes running smoothly. Think of them as the tiny, tireless workers in your cells! 🧬

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• Efficiency: Enzymes act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions that would otherwise be too slow to sustain life.
• Energy: They help break down nutrients for energy and synthesize essential molecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins.
• Regulation: They facilitate the transfer of information between molecules.
• Turnover: Enzymes are crucial for the continuous synthesis, degradation, and recycling of macromolecules.

#Constant Energy Input

• Enzymes need a constant supply of energy to function properly.
• Their activity is often coupled with energy-consuming reactions, such as electron transfer and ATP hydrolysis. 🤖

#What is Catalysis?

Catalysis is simply the process of speeding up a chemical reaction using a catalyst.

• Lower Activation Energy: Catalysts provide an alternate reaction pathway that requires less energy to get started. 🏃💨
• How They Work:
  • Changing the position of atoms in reactants.
  • Stabilizing intermediate products.
  • Providing a more favorable transition state.

#Enzymes: ...