Glossary

ATP

Adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) is composed of three phosphate groups, ribose and adenine and is the carrier of chemical energy in cells. The hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate groups or their transfer to another molecule, releases a vast amount of energy.

Activated Carrier

Small molecules that stores easily-exchangeable energy in the form of energy-rich covalent bonds.

Eukaryotic

Organism made up one or more cells, in which the cells have distinctive nucleus and cytoplasm.

FADH₂

Activated carrier molecule, which is produced by the citric acid cycle.

Covalent Bond

Is the sharing of one or more pair of electrons to form a stable chemical link between two atoms.

Glucose

Is a six carbon sugar and is stored in polymeric form as glycogen in animal cells. Their oxidation plays an important role in the metabolism of living cells.

Hydrophilic

Describes a polar molecule or part of a molecule, which forms energetically favourable interactions with water molecules.

Mutation

The heritable change in the sequence of nucleotides in chromosomes.

NAD

Nicotinic adenine dinucleotide is an activated carrier that accepts a hydride ion from a donor molecule in a oxidation reaction. NADH is then formed, which is an important carrier in oxidation phosphorylation.

Organelle

Membrane enclosed compartment which has a distinct function, structure and macromolecular composition. 

Oxidation

Is the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen, causing the loss of an electron from an atom.