Cellular Metabolism Flashcards
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the body’s many chemical reactions.
What is the purpose of chemical reactions?
Chemical reactions store & use energy to maintain homeostasis.
Define homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body.
What does metabolism do?
Metabolism performs all body’s essential functions.
What are the two types of metabolic reactions that control use of energy by cells?
- anabolism - Catabolism
What is Anabolism?
Anabolism is the building of complex molecules from simpler ones and the storage of energy.
What is Catabolism?
This is the breakdown of complex molecules to form simpler ones and the release of energy.
What do all cells do?
All cells perform basic chemical reactions.
What is oxidation?
Oxidation is where glucose burns in cells to release energy that fuels the process of anabolism
Define Oxidation.
Oxidation is reduction action. On substance gains oxygen or loses hydrogen, leads to another substance to gain electrons.
How does metabolism occur within the cell?
Enzymes reduce the amount of activation energy needed for oxidation as part of cellular respiration.
What occurs between atoms of molecules when their bonds are broken?
Chemical energy is released.
What is cellular respiration?
Gas exchange between the atmosphere and cells.
What are the three types of reactions that allow this to happen?
- Glycolysis - Citric Acid Cycle also known as the Kreb cycle. - Electron transport chain.
Define Glycolysis?
The breakdown of glucose to get lactic or pyruvic acid, which releases energy as ATP.
Define Citric Acid Cycle also known as Kreb Cycle.
This is the metabolism of carbon chains of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. This gets carbon dioxide, water, high energy phosphate bonds (ATP)
What is the electron transport chain:
- High energy electrons still contains most of the chemical energy of the original glucose molecule - Oxygen is the final electron acceptor so process called aerobic respiration. - This generates energy in the mitochondria.
What is the mitochondria?
It is an organelle within a cell in which energy production occurs along with respiration.
What is an ATP?
ATP is Adenosine Triphosphate. It is the high-energy molecule that stores the energy we need to do just about everything we do.
What do specific sequences of enzymatic reactions control?
They control cellular respiration, anabolic reactions and catabolic reactions.
What are the metabolic pathways?
These are specific enzymatic reactions.
What are the three main sequences?
- Glycogenesis - Gluconogenesis - Fats
What is Glycogenesis?
It is the process where glucose molecules are join in to long chains forming glycogen.
What is Gluconogenesis?
This is the process of forming new glucose from noncarbohydrate molecules.
When does Gluconogenesis occur?
This occurs when blood glucose levels drop. Lysis of glycogen is split from it.
Why are fats important as a metabolic pathway?
It is the most concentrated energy source
Which fat is the only one to be regularly oxidised for energy?
Triglycerides.
When does lipogenesis occur?
This occurs when ATP’s and glucose levels are high in the cells.
What is Lipolysis?
This is the breakdown of stored fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
What occurs when there are excess proteins?
The body cannot store excess proteins so they are broken down and replaced before they deteriorate.
Why are amino acids important?
They are the most important anabolic nutrient which form all protein structures and most of the body’s functional molecules.
What do Glutamic acids do?
Glutamic acids delaminate amino acids before it can be oxidised for energy.
Where does Protein synthesis occur?
It occurs on the ribosomes.
What regulates this synthesis?
Hormones such as growth hormones, thyroxine and others.
