BIO 181 CAPCO ASU EXAM 3 FINAL 2026
COMPREHENSIVE NOTES AND EXAM
PREPARATION WORKBOOK A+
◉ Define metabolic pathways. Answer: A metabolic pathway begins
with a specific molecule and ends with a product.
Each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme.
◉ What is catabolism. Answer: Catabolic pathways release energy by
breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds
EX: Cellular respiration, the breakdown of glucose in the presence of
oxygen
◉ What is anabolism. Answer: Anabolic pathways consume energy
to build complex molecules from simpler ones.
EX: The synthesis of protein from amino acids
◉ What is exergonic. Answer: An exergonic reaction proceeds with a
net release of free energy and is spontaneous.
◉ What is endergonic?. Answer: An endergonic reaction absorbs
free energy from its surroundings and is non-spontaneous.
,◉ What is a catalyst? Does it get consumed in a reaction?. Answer: A
catalyst is a chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being
consumed by the reaction.
EX: Hydrolysis of sucrose by the enzyme sucrase is an example of an
enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
◉ How do enzymes work?. Answer: Enzymes catalyze reactions by
lowering the EA barrier.
Enzymes do not affect the change in free energy (∆G); instead, they
hasten reactions that would occur eventually.
◉ Explain how temperature and pH affect enzyme activity.. Answer:
Each enzyme has an optimal temperature in which it can function.
Each enzyme has an optimal pH in which it can function.
Optimal conditions favor the most active shape for the enzyme
molecule.
◉ Why do we need vitamins and minerals (in the context of
enzymes)?. Answer: Cofactors are nonprotein enzyme helpers.
Cofactors may be inorganic (such as a metal in
ionic form) or organic. An organic cofactor is called a coenzyme.
Coenzymes include vitamins. Cofactors include minerals.
◉ What is an enzyme inhibitor?. Answer: COMPETITIVE
INHIBITORS bind to the active site of an enzyme, competing with the
, substrate. NONCOMPETITIVE INHIBITORS bind to another part of
an enzyme, causing the enzyme to change shape and making the
active site less effective.
EX: inhibitors include toxins, poisons, pesticides, and antibiotics
◉ How do enzymes affect activation energy?. Answer: enzymes
lower activation energy.
Every chemical reaction between molecules involves bond breaking
and bond forming. The initial energy needed to start a chemical
reaction is called the free energy of activation, or activation energy
(EA). Activation energy is often supplied in the form of thermal
energy that the reactant molecules absorb from their surroundings.
◉ Structure and Hydrolysis of ATP. Answer: ATP (adenosine
triphosphate) is the cell's
energy shuttle. ATP is composed of ribose (a sugar), adenine (a
nitrogenous base), and three phosphate groups. ATP is a nucleotide,
the monomer unit of nucleic acids.
§ The bonds between the phosphate groups of ATP's tail can be
broken by hydrolysis.
§ Energy is released from ATP when the terminal phosphate bond is
broken.
§ This release of energy comes from the chemical change to a state
of lower free energy, not from the phosphate bonds themselves.
COMPREHENSIVE NOTES AND EXAM
PREPARATION WORKBOOK A+
◉ Define metabolic pathways. Answer: A metabolic pathway begins
with a specific molecule and ends with a product.
Each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme.
◉ What is catabolism. Answer: Catabolic pathways release energy by
breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds
EX: Cellular respiration, the breakdown of glucose in the presence of
oxygen
◉ What is anabolism. Answer: Anabolic pathways consume energy
to build complex molecules from simpler ones.
EX: The synthesis of protein from amino acids
◉ What is exergonic. Answer: An exergonic reaction proceeds with a
net release of free energy and is spontaneous.
◉ What is endergonic?. Answer: An endergonic reaction absorbs
free energy from its surroundings and is non-spontaneous.
,◉ What is a catalyst? Does it get consumed in a reaction?. Answer: A
catalyst is a chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being
consumed by the reaction.
EX: Hydrolysis of sucrose by the enzyme sucrase is an example of an
enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
◉ How do enzymes work?. Answer: Enzymes catalyze reactions by
lowering the EA barrier.
Enzymes do not affect the change in free energy (∆G); instead, they
hasten reactions that would occur eventually.
◉ Explain how temperature and pH affect enzyme activity.. Answer:
Each enzyme has an optimal temperature in which it can function.
Each enzyme has an optimal pH in which it can function.
Optimal conditions favor the most active shape for the enzyme
molecule.
◉ Why do we need vitamins and minerals (in the context of
enzymes)?. Answer: Cofactors are nonprotein enzyme helpers.
Cofactors may be inorganic (such as a metal in
ionic form) or organic. An organic cofactor is called a coenzyme.
Coenzymes include vitamins. Cofactors include minerals.
◉ What is an enzyme inhibitor?. Answer: COMPETITIVE
INHIBITORS bind to the active site of an enzyme, competing with the
, substrate. NONCOMPETITIVE INHIBITORS bind to another part of
an enzyme, causing the enzyme to change shape and making the
active site less effective.
EX: inhibitors include toxins, poisons, pesticides, and antibiotics
◉ How do enzymes affect activation energy?. Answer: enzymes
lower activation energy.
Every chemical reaction between molecules involves bond breaking
and bond forming. The initial energy needed to start a chemical
reaction is called the free energy of activation, or activation energy
(EA). Activation energy is often supplied in the form of thermal
energy that the reactant molecules absorb from their surroundings.
◉ Structure and Hydrolysis of ATP. Answer: ATP (adenosine
triphosphate) is the cell's
energy shuttle. ATP is composed of ribose (a sugar), adenine (a
nitrogenous base), and three phosphate groups. ATP is a nucleotide,
the monomer unit of nucleic acids.
§ The bonds between the phosphate groups of ATP's tail can be
broken by hydrolysis.
§ Energy is released from ATP when the terminal phosphate bond is
broken.
§ This release of energy comes from the chemical change to a state
of lower free energy, not from the phosphate bonds themselves.
