1

Ch. 6
Energy Flow in
the Life of a Cell
1. Energy capacity to do work
a. Kinetic energy (energy of movement) light, electricity, etc.
b. Potential energy (stored energy) chemical bonds, etc.
When standing
still, potential
energy
When diving, the potential
energy is converted to
kinetic energy
The laws of Thermodynamics
A. 1
st
law in a closed system, the total amount of
energy in the system remains constant. They can
neither be created nor destroyed, but can be
changed in different forms - the law of
conservation of energy
B. 2
nd
law When energy is converted from one form
to another, more useful energy (free energy) is
decreased while less useful energy (entropy:
randomness or disorder) is increased
2 C
8
H
18
+ 25 O
2
16 CO
2
+ 18 H
2
O + energy
2 CO + O
2
2 CO
2
+ energy: slow
Catalytic converter: speed up the conversion of CO to CO
2
Organization of Matter
: Unless energy is added to the system,
processes that proceed spontaneously result in an
increase in randomness and disorder (entropy) all
processes always go toward increasing entropy.
How living things accumulate energy? (If all
reactions proceed to increase entropy)
: Sunlight (solar energy)
The entropy of the solar system as a whole
constantly increases.
2. How Does Energy Flow in Chemical Reactions?
Chemical reactions are either exergonic (heat-
producing) or endergonic (heat-absorbing).
+ +
E
E E
E >
<
: exergonic
: endergonic
Ex) Glucose + 6 O
2
6 CO
2
+ 6 H
2
O + Energy
Is this reaction occurring spontaneously?
- For the reaction to occur, the initial input energy (to
overcome or lower the barrier) is required.
2
Catalysts (or enzymes) catalyze the reaction by
lowering the activation energy.
Exergonic reaction Endergonic reaction
:Catabolism
Anabolism
Metabolism
Q: The energy source to synthesize molecules?
A: Exergonic reactions coupled to the endergonic
reactions. The carrier is ATP.
Energy Carriers
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) = A-ribose-P~P~P (~ is a high
energy bond)
ATP: temporary, the long-term storage molecules are
glycogen, starch, fats, etc.
ATP goes short distance (within the cell)
In some reactions, energy is not stored in ATP but transferred
to electrons. NAD
+
, FAD are common electron carriers.
Control of Metabolic Reactions
1. By the enzymes ( biological catalysts)
2. Coupling endergonic reaction with exergonic
reactions (via electron carriers)
3. Synthesizing energy-carrier molecules that
capture energy from exergonic reaction and
transport to endergonic reactions.
Chemical reactions at 37 C is not high enough to
drive the reactions at the necessary pace.
Therefore, enzymes are used to lower the
activation energy of the reactions in our body.
Coupling of the exergonic with the
endergonic reaction
3
Exergonic reaction
Endergonic reaction
Electron Carriers
Energy is transported by energy-carrier,
such as ATP, electron carrier.
Catalysts
1. Speed up reactions by lowering activation energy
2. Works on only those reactions that would occur
spontaneously ex) endergonic reaction
3. Recycled
Enzymes (biological catalysts)
1. Very specific (active site)
2. Activity is regulated (by feedback regulation
in many cases)
Conformational change
E-S
complex
Enzyme
specificity
4
Allosteric
regulation
Enzyme Regulation (feedback regulation)
Regulation of enzyme synthesis and activity
Synthesis
1. Synthesis: to meet the changing needs.
2. Synthesized in inactive form and activated when
needed. (Ex) Pepsinogen to Pepsin
Activity
1. Activity is inhibited (or enhanced ) by its
own product or any product produced
along the metabolic pathway (feedback)
2. Allosteric regulation (regulator molecules)
3. Competitive inhibition (compete for the
same site) (Ex. Alcohol dehydrogenase
with ethanol, methanol)
Enzyme activity is
influenced by
1. pH
2. salt conc.,
3. temperature,
4. presence of
coenzyme (vitamins)