ENVS 532

Dr Assad Al-Thukair
Associate Professor
 General concept of energy in life (Chapter 5.1)

Thermodynamics concept: (Laws of thermodynamic)

First law: Energy (E) is not created or destroyed; it converted from

one form to another.
Second law: Entropy tend to increase.
Entropy: it measures how much energy in the universe or
(any part of it) is dispersed.
If entropy increase in one place it will decrease in another place.

Energy: is in play (been utilized) or stored. Energy flow through out life
by making and breaking bonds in chemical reactions.
 Energy in, Energy out
All chemical bonds holds potential energy .
Energy measured in Calories
Calorie: amount of energy that require to heat one g of water by one degree at
standard pressure .

Reactant s : molecules enter the reaction

Products : molecules that are formed following the reaction
Endergonic : Reaction that require input of energy (endothermic )
Exogonic : Reaction that release energy (exothermic)
Energy tend to flow in one direction,
and toward maximum dispersal.

Sun-------Producer ---------Consumer
ATP in Metabolism

In biology:
a. Energy is stored in ATP molecules

b. Energy is stored by conversion of ADP to ATP

is released by conversion of ATP to ADP
Energy

ADP + P ATP (storage of Energy)

Energy
 Energy from the
sun or from food

Energy release

Catapult
Enzymes in metabolic reaction (Chapter 5.3, 5.4 )

• Enzyme = catalysts (in chemistry)

* makes a specific reaction occurs much faster than
it would on its own
* are not consumed or changed by participating in
a reaction
* most are proteins, some are RNA

Substrate: * The specific reactant acted upon by an

enzyme.
Active site :* Pocket in enzymes where substrate bind
and reaction proceed.
Activation energy (AE)
= minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to start

Glucose + O2 (air) CO2 + H2O + E (more than a century)

(Instantaneous)

Spark (E)
Activation Energy (AE) Transition state = state from which the
reaction proceeds spontaneously

Substrates
A+ B [Ex. Spark (small energy)]

Products
C+D

Enzyme: * reduces AE, making the reaction to happen

* takes the reaction to a transition state
 How the enzyme works ?
Transition state is reached by 4 mechanisms:
– Helping substrates get together (binding to active sites)

– Orienting substrates in positions that favor reaction

– Inducing a fit between enzyme and substrate (induced-fit model

– like “lock and key”)
* Enz. restrains a substrate to a particular shape
* Enz. forces the substrates to fit into the active site

– Shutting out water molecules

Enzyme reaction in active site
 Controls Over Metabolism

• Concentrations of reactants or products can make

reactions proceed forward or backward

• Feedback mechanisms can adjust enzyme

production, or activate or inhibit enzymes
 Controls Over Metabolism

• Concentrations of reactants or products can make

reactions proceed forward or backward

• Feedback mechanisms can adjust enzyme

production, or activate or inhibit enzymes

• Allosteric control: is the regulation of the enzyme

at a site different from the active site, either by
inhibition or activation
Allosteric Control
Allosteric activator Allosteric inhbitor
Feedback Inhibition – a switching
action
 Effects of Temperature, pH, and Salinity

Each enzyme has its own optimum range of:

* Temperature (To):
High To= high reaction rates but very too high temperatures
denature enzymes
low To = low reaction
* pH:
In humans, most enzymes work at pH 6 to 8
* salt concentration:
Affect the hydrogen bonds that hold enzymes in their three-
dimensional shape
 35o C > 38 oC
temperature
Hypothermia [fever], lowers
Low enzyme activity enzyme reactions
 Enzymes and helpers

• Cofactors
* Atoms or molecules (other than proteins) that are
necessary for enzyme function
Example: Iron atoms in catalase
Catalase : Antioxidant enzymes that reduce
free radicals (unpaired electron).
• Coenzymes
* Are organic cofactors such as vitamins
* May become modified during a reaction
– Ex. NAD+, NADP+
 Types of Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathway or metabolism = Any enzyme-mediated

reactions in the cell.
Three types:
Anabolic pathways: build molecules.
Catabolic pathways : break apart molecules.
Cyclic pathways: regenerate a molecule from the first step.
Classification of organisms according to source of Carbon.
1- Autotroph: sun + Co2
2- Heterotroph: Organic from autotroph