Question

Answer in short essay format with complete sentences. Please answer both of them.

1. keeping the 1st law of thermodynamics in mind, define cotransport and explain the energy transfers that occur, starting with ATP.

2. what is the role of enzymes in biochemical pathways. differentiate between an enzyme's effect on the activation energy and, ◇G.

Answer 1

Ans 1: As per first law of thermodynamics, energy neither be created nor be destroyed, in other words, it remains balanced. In co-transport or transport of a molecule across the membrane with a high energy molecule like ATP exchange, Gibbs free energy plays a major role. to transport a molecule across the membrane energy is required which comes from hydrolysis of ATP and gives negative free energy change which drives the transport of molecule further, thus, energy from ATP molecule got transferred to the membrane(charge) in form of delta G.

Ans 2:

Role of Enzymes in Biochemical pathways: enzymes act as catalysts in biochemical pathways and trigger the reactions. They increase reaction rate by decreasing the activation energy(energy which is required to start a chemical energy) and Gibbs free energy change and have no effect on Gibbs free energy of the reaction. Enzymes fast the reactions and thus efficiently helps in product formation. Enzymes are involved in the breakdown of complex molecules and liberation of energy which is later employed in other reactions of the system.