Enzymes

Substances that catalyze (increase the speed of) a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction. Most enzymes are made of proteins, but some RNA molecules can also have a catalytic function (ribozymes)

RNA molecules that have a catalytic function

The part of an enzyme that binds to substrates of a specific shape and/or charge

The reactant to which an enzyme binds during a chemical reaction

A site on an enzyme to which a noncompetitive inhibitor binds, changing the shape of the enzyme and decreasing the efficiency of the enzyme

An inhibitor that slows the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction by binding to the active site of the enzyme, blocking the substrate from interacting with the active site of the enzyme

Inorganic molecules that bind to enzymes and enhance the efficiency of enzymes. Many minerals function as cofactors

Organic molecules that bind to enzymes and enhance the efficiency of enzymes. Many vitamins function as coenzymes

A term describing a chemical reaction in which the free energy of the products is greater than the free energy of the reactants. Endergonic reactions are considered energetically unfavorable

A term describing a chemical reaction in which the free energy of the products is lower than the free energy of the products is lower than the free energy of the reactants. Exergonic reactions are considered energetically favorable

The minimum amount of energy that is required to energize the reactants to a transition state from which a chemical reaction can occur. The higher the activation energy, the slower the rate of the chemical reaction

A pair of chemical reactions in which the energy released from an exergonic (energetically favorable) reaction is used to drive an endergonic (energetically unfavorable) reaction