MICROBIOLOGY EXAM 2 TEST BANK BIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

MICROBIOLOGY EXAM 2 TEST BANK BIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS What does ATP stand for, and why is it referred to as the energy currency of the cell? -Adenosine triphosphate . -Provides the energy needed for muscles to contract and perform movements. What is a noncompetitive inhibitor, and how does it affect enzyme activity? -A molecule that binds to the allosteric site on an enzyme, changing its shape and reducing its activity. Can you explain what redox reactions involve? -One molecule loses electrons (oxidation) while another gains electrons (reduction). -This transfer of electrons is crucial for energy transfer in biological systems. What does the mnemonic OIL RIG stand for? -Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain. -It helps remember that when a substance is oxidized, it loses electrons, and when it is reduced, it gains electrons. -For example, in cellular respiration, glucose is oxidized, and oxygen is reduced. Can you tell me what pyruvic acid is and how it relates to glycolysis? -A three-carbon product of glycolysis, which is the process that breaks down glucose to extract energy. -For example, after glycolysis, glucose is converted into pyruvic acid, which can then enter the Krebs cycle for further energy production. What is the role of the electron transport chain in cellular respiration? -It is the final step in cellular respiration, where most of the ATP is generated through a series of protein complexes that pump protons across a membrane, creating a gradient. -For example, in mitochondria, the electron transport chain uses electrons from NADH and FADH2 to produce ATP efficiently.