BIOC Lecture 1: Introduction Flashcards
What does glycolysis convert 6C glucose to?
Two 3C pyruvate
Is ATP used or generated in Glycolysis?
ATP is used in early stages, produced in later stages
What else is produced in glycolysis?
NADH
What is done with pyruvate during aerobic glycolysis?
Conversion to AcCoA - oxidation or storage as fat
What is done with pyruvate during anaerobic glycolysis?
Regeneration of NAD from NADH - different products
What does beta oxidation convert fatty acyl CoA into?
AcCoA
What energy molecules are produced by beta oxidation?
NADH and FADH2
What is Beta Oxidation?
Key pathway of fat utilisation
Where does beta oxidation occur?
Mitochondria
What molecule goes into beta oxidation?
Fatty acyl CoA
Is beta oxidation a cyclic reaction?
Semi-cyclic reaction - we end the process with a shorter number of carbons
What happens to the fatty acid chain after every cycle of beta oxidation?
It becomes 2 carbons shorter
What two processes have strong similarities?
Beta oxidation and CAC
Is the CAC cyclic?
Yes
Is oxygen required for the CAC?
No
What does it mean that intermediates persist in the CAC?
Intermediates involved in the cycle are regenerated and continue to circulate within the cycle as long as there are substrates and enzymes available
What happens during the cyclic pathway of CAC?
Carbon shuffling
What is carbon shuffling?
The rearrangement of C atoms within the cycles intermediates as the cycle progresses
What does the rearrangement of C atoms involve?
The movement of carbon atoms from one compound to another
What does the CAC generate?
Reducing equivalents, NADH, FADH2 and ATP (or GTP)
What are reducing equivalents?
The molecules that are involved in carrying electrons during the oxidation-reduction reactions (e.g. NADH and FADH2)
Where does the CAC occur?
In the inner mitochondrial membrane of the mitochondria
Does the ETC require oxygen?
Yes
What happens during the ETC?
Reducing equivalents from CAC are reoxidised
How does the ETC work?
Electrons flow ‘along’ components and a charge gradient is created (PMF). ATP synthase uses PMF to make ATP from ADP
What is PMF?
Proton motive force - the electrochemical gradient generated across the inner mitochondrial membrane during the ETC
What is anaerobic fermentation?
microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeasts, convert organic compounds (typically sugars) into simpler substances in the absence of oxygen.
What does anaerobic fermentation produce?
Alcohol and CO2 (yeast and goldfish)
Lactate (yogurt and muscles)
