Biochemistry Glossary
95 terms
- Active Site
- Region of enzyme where substrate binding occurs.
- Active Transport
- Energy-requiring movement of molecules across membrane.
- Allosteric Regulation
- Control of enzyme activity through binding at sites other than active site.
- Amino Acid
- Basic building block of proteins, contains amino and carboxyl groups.
- Antioxidant
- Molecule that prevents oxidation.
- ATP
- Adenosine triphosphate, energy currency of cell.
- Beta Oxidation
- Fatty acid breakdown pathway.
- Biochemical Marker
- Molecule indicating biological state or condition.
- Biochemical Pathway
- Series of biochemical reactions.
- Biochemical Reaction
- Chemical reaction in living organisms.
- Bioenergetics
- Study of energy flow in living systems.
- Buffer
- System that resists changes in pH.
- Calvin Cycle
- Carbon fixation pathway in photosynthesis.
- Carbohydrate
- Organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
- Catalysis
- Process of increasing reaction rate.
- Cell Signaling
- Communication between cells.
- Cellular Biochemistry
- Study of chemical processes in cells.
- Cellular Respiration
- Process of breaking down nutrients for energy.
- Chemiosmosis
- ATP synthesis through proton gradient.
- Cholesterol
- Steroid lipid, important for cell membrane structure.
- Citric Acid Cycle
- Central metabolic pathway in cellular respiration.
- Coenzyme
- Non-protein molecule required for enzyme activity.
- Cofactor
- Non-protein component required for enzyme function.
- Competitive Inhibition
- Type of enzyme inhibition where inhibitor competes with substrate.
- Dark Reaction
- Light-independent phase of photosynthesis.
- Denaturation
- Loss of protein structure and function.
- Diffusion
- Movement of molecules from high to low concentration.
- Disaccharide
- Sugar formed from two monosaccharides.
- DNA
- Deoxyribonucleic acid, genetic material.
- DNA Replication
- Process of copying DNA.
- Electron Transport Chain
- Series of compounds that transfer electrons in cellular respiration.
- Energy Coupling
- Link between energy-requiring and energy-releasing reactions.
- Energy Metabolism
- Processes involved in energy production and use.
- Enzyme
- Biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions.
- Enzyme Deficiency
- Lack of specific enzyme activity.
- Enzyme Kinetics
- Study of rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
- Enzyme Regulation
- Control of enzyme activity.
- Fatty Acid
- Carboxylic acid with long hydrocarbon chain.
- Feedback Inhibition
- Control mechanism where product inhibits its own synthesis.
- Fermentation
- Anaerobic breakdown of glucose.
- Free Radical
- Highly reactive molecule with unpaired electron.
- Gene Expression
- Process by which genetic information becomes functional product.
- Genomics
- Study of genes and their functions.
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glucose synthesis from non-carbohydrate sources.
- Glycogen
- Storage form of glucose in animals.
- Glycolysis
- Pathway breaking down glucose to pyruvate.
- Glycosylation
- Addition of sugar groups to molecules.
- Hormone
- Chemical messenger molecule.
- Inborn Error of Metabolism
- Inherited metabolic disorder.
- Ion Channel
- Protein that allows specific ions to cross membrane.
- Light Reaction
- Light-dependent phase of photosynthesis.
- Lipid
- Fat-soluble organic compound.
- Membrane Potential
- Electrical difference across cell membrane.
- Membrane Transport
- Movement of substances across cell membranes.
- Metabolic Disease
- Disorder affecting metabolic processes.
- Metabolic Pathway
- Series of chemical reactions in metabolism.
- Metabolic Regulation
- Control of metabolic pathways.
- Metabolism
- Sum of all chemical reactions in living organisms.
- Metabolite
- Intermediate or product of metabolism.
- Metabolomics
- Study of all metabolites in biological system.
- Mineral
- Inorganic element required for life processes.
- Molecular Biology
- Study of biological processes at molecular level.
- Molecular Chaperone
- Protein that assists in protein folding.
- Monosaccharide
- Simple sugar, basic unit of carbohydrates.
- Mutation
- Change in DNA sequence.
- Nucleic Acid
- DNA or RNA, carries genetic information.
- Nucleotide
- Building block of nucleic acids.
- Osmosis
- Movement of water across semipermeable membrane.
- Oxidation
- Loss of electrons from molecule.
- Oxidative Phosphorylation
- ATP production through electron transport chain.
- Pentose Phosphate Pathway
- Alternative glucose oxidation pathway.
- pH
- Measure of hydrogen ion concentration.
- Phospholipid
- Lipid with phosphate group, major component of cell membranes.
- Phosphorylation
- Addition of phosphate groups to molecules.
- Photosynthesis
- Process of converting light energy to chemical energy.
- Polysaccharide
- Complex carbohydrate formed from many monosaccharides.
- Post-translational Modification
- Chemical modification of protein after synthesis.
- Prosthetic Group
- Tightly bound cofactor.
- Protein Folding
- Process by which protein assumes its functional shape.
- Protein Structure
- Organization of protein molecules in primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels.
- Protein Synthesis
- Process of creating proteins from amino acids.
- Proteolysis
- Protein breakdown.
- Proteomics
- Study of all proteins in biological system.
- Receptor
- Protein that binds specific molecules.
- Redox Reaction
- Reaction involving electron transfer.
- Reduction
- Gain of electrons by molecule.
- RNA
- Ribonucleic acid, involved in protein synthesis.
- Second Messenger
- Intracellular signaling molecule.
- Signal Transduction
- Conversion of external signal to internal response.
- Substrate
- Molecule that an enzyme acts upon.
- Transcription
- Process of RNA synthesis from DNA.
- Translation
- Process of protein synthesis from mRNA.
- Triglyceride
- Fat molecule composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.
- Urea Cycle
- Pathway for ammonia disposal as urea.
- Vitamin
- Essential organic compound required in small amounts.