Carbohydrates (3)

Question 1

How are metabolic pathways regulated ?

Answer 1

1) product inhibition
2) committing step
3) allosteric regulation.

Question 2

What is the committing step ?

Answer 2

An irreversible step that is usually the first reaction. This allows the substrate to be diverted into another pathway.

Question 3

What is allosteric inhibition ?

Answer 3

• final product inhibits first enzymes allosteric site , which results in a build up of intermediates.

Question 4

Which steps are usually potential sites of regulation ?

Answer 4

Irreversible steps.

Reversible steps are not regulated because even when inhibited reactions still come to equilibrium so levels of products are unaffected.