Anabolism Flashcards
Macromolecules
large molecules, necessary for life, that are built from smaller organic molecules. There are four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids).
Anabolic metabolism
no “one size fits all”. Anabolism is the set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units
why does a cell build DNA? (macromolecule)
Genetic code (at least one copy per cell)
why does a cell build RNA? (macromolecule)
rRNA – ribosomes
tRNA – protein transcription
mRNA – control protein expression
why does a cell build Proteins? (macromolecule)
Enzymes
Ribosomes and Structural components Gene expression regulation
Porins and Sensory proteins
Catalysts that do all the molecular work
why does a cell build Lipids? (macromolecule)
Cell membrane (PMF and the bag that holds everything together) energy storage without osmotic pressure
why does a cell build Polysaccarides? (macromolecule)
Structural integrity (cellulose in plants or peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls) Energy storage without osmotic pressure
Gibbs free energy Gr<0
Products increasingly favoured (favour polymers)
Gibbs free energy Gr>0
Reactants increasingly favoured (favour monomers)
DNA energy requirements
synthesis of DNA requires lots of things which require energy to produce-quasi expensive. More than RNA less than protein. 1 phosphate requirement.
Per mg 7.63
total 236.4
RNA energy requirements
RNA less expensive per mg than DNA but the cell requires much more of it. 1 phosphate requirement.
Per mg 4.32
Total 886
Protein energy requirements
Protein is the most expensive compared to DNA and RNA per mg and per cell as there is a high protein concentration per cell and producing protein is very energy expensive. Required 4 phosphates (expensive)
Per mg 39.6
Total 21,750
Peptidoglycan energy requirements
low energy required per mg but lots required per cell.
Per mg 3.41
Total 700
Lipids energy requirements
Makes up 10% of cell mass, takes only 1 phosphate to create - Low energy requirements.
Per mg 2.86
Total 260
Polysaccharides energy requirements
Starting from a sugar => 1~P required to make each sugar phosphate. Starting from the sugar-1-P => no additional energy required. This suggests that polysaccharide formation is an equilibrium process, driven by mass action and precipitation. 1 ATP is used to attach glycogen oligomers to undPP for export and polymerization to glycogen. (non spontaneous)
