Question

What is energy coupling?
a. the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP+P.
b. a barrier to the initiation of a reaction.
c. the use of energy released from an exergonic reaction to drive an endergonic reaction.
d. the use of an enzyme to reduce activation energy.
e. a description of the energetic relationship between the reactants and products in an exergonic reaction.

Answer 1

Answer:

c: the use of energy released from an exergonic reaction to drive an endergonic reaction.

Explanation:

Energy coupling is a process involving two reactions whereby one of the reactions generate energy, and the generated energy is used to drive the other reaction.

A reaction during which energy is generated is referred to as exergonic reaction while one in which energy is consumed is known as endergonic reaction. Hence, energy coupling can also be viewed as a process linking exergonic and endergonic reactions whereby the energy released in the former is used up by the latter.

A good example is illustrated by the light dependent and light independent reactions of photosynthesis during which the ATP and NADPH produced during the light dependent reaction is used to fix carbon dioxide in the light independent reaction.

The correct answer is C.