Exam 4 Flashcards
Where does the citric acid cycle take place in the cell?
Mitochondria
In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted to this
acetyl-CoA
a large, multi-subunit enzyme complex that links glycolysis and the citric acid cycle under aerobic conditions
PDH (pyruvate dehydrogenase)
provides a flexible linker between active sites within the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
lipoamide
causes the disease Beriberi
deficiency in vitamin thiamine
the activated form of acyl groups and the fuel for the citric acid cycle
acetyl CoA
What are the steps involved in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA
- Decarboxylation
- Oxidation
- Transfer to CoA
Which of the following functions as a “flexible swinging arm” when it transfers the reaction intermediate from one active site to the next?
lipoamide
PDH phosphatase deficiency results in this
chronic elevated plasma lactate
Which PDH cofactor is affected by mercury and arsenide compounds?
Lipoamide
What are the three enzyme subunits in the PDH complex and the reactions they catalyse
E1: the PDH component and catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate.
E2: is called dyhydrolipoyl transacetylase and catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group to coenzyme A.
E3: The third enzyme subunit is dyhydrolipoyl dehydrogenase and catalyzes the regeneration of the oxidized form of lipoamide
What are the five essential cofactors for PDH?
TPP, Lipoic Acid, FAD, NAD+, CoA
How are the three active sites of PDH linked?
the long, flexible arm of the E2 subunit acts like a long robotic arm and carries the substrate from active site to active site
What are the two advantages that are derived from the coordinated actions of the three enzymes in the PDH complex?
The proximity of one enzyme to another enzyme increases the overall reaction rate and minimizes side reactions
What is the key means of regulation of PDH
The inactive form of PDH is the phosphorylated form of the E1 component. PDH phosphatase activates PDH by removing the phosphoryl group and PDH kinase phosphorylates and inactivates it again when the energy charge is high.
The formation of acetyl CoA limits the cell’s use of it to which two fates?
The oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to form acetyl CoA is an irreversible step in animals, so pyruvate cannot be reformed. It can either be completely oxidized to CO2 in the citric acid cycle or it can be incorporated into lipids.
the product found by the condensation of oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA
citrate
the citric acid cycle intermediate is at both the beginning and the end of the citric acid cycle
oxaloacetate
the product of the complete oxidation of carbon in the citric acid cycle
carbon dioxide
carbons from carbs enter the citric acid cycle in the form of
acetyl CoA
When is the citric acid cycle inhibited
high energy conditions
the first citric acid cycle intermediate to be oxidized
isocitrate
organisms that can convert fat into sugar use the ____ cycle
glyxolyate
a mutation in the active site of succinyl CoA synthetase where His is converted into a Lysine would result in
the loss of a sucking phosphate intermediate
isomerization of citrate is catalyzed by
aconitase
In which reaction is ATP directly formed in the citric acid cycle
conversion of succinylcholine CoA to succinate
In which step of the citric acid cycle is FADH2 formed
the conversion of succinate to fumarate
Are the acetyl carbons that enter the citric acid cycle the exact same carbons that leave as CO2? Briefly explain
No, the carbons are different. The carbons that leave as CO2 come from oxaloacetate that condensed with acetyl CoA. However, since succinate is symmetrical, and the carbons randomize, eventually all carbons are turned over.
How does the mechanism of citrate synthase prevent unwanted reactions?
The mandatory sequential binding of the two substrates prevent unwanted side reactions. Oxaloacetate must bind first to create the binding site for acetyl-CoA. This ensures that the oxaloacetate is present in the active site when acetyl-CoA so they can be condensed together. This prevents acetyl-CoA from being alone in the active site where it could be cleaved in a worthless reaction without oxaloacetate.
Explain how the citric acid cycle is regulated by the energy change and electron carrier molecules
The citric acid cycle is regulated at the two oxidative decarboxylation steps: isocitrate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. Both of these reactions yield and NADH. Ultimately the CAC will yield ATP. When NADH (immediate product) and ATP (downstream product) levels are high, these enzymes are inhibited. When the energy charge is low, ADP will activate these enzymes.
Explain how the citric acid cycle is a metabolic hub within the cell
In addition to being a pathway for the generation of ATP, the metabolic intermediates of the CAC can be used as building materials for many important biological molecules. The intermediates oxaloacetate and alpha-ketoglutarate are used in the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine bases and many amino acids. Citrate can be used for sterol and fatty acid synthesis. Succinate can be used to make heme and chlorophyll groups. In some organisms, the glycoxylate cycle overlaps some steps of the CAC to create a pathway for making additional oxaloacetate (and ultimately carbs) from fatty acids (acetyl-CoA)
the enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of O2
Complex 4 or cytochrome c oxidase
this citric acid cycle enzyme is also part of an electron transport complex
succinate dehydrogenase
the prosthetic group in Complex 1 that accepts electrons from NADH
FMN
A strong oxidizing agent has a strong tendency to ____ electron(s)
accept
carries electrons from Complex 3 to 4
cytochrome c
Path(s) taken by a pair of electrons as they travel down the ETC
1) NADH to Complex 1 to CoQ to Complex 3 to Cytochrome c to Complex 4 to O2
2) FADH2 to Complex 2 to CoQ to Complex 3 to Cytochrome c to Complex 4 to O2
How does electron flow down the ETC affect proton transport
it leads to the transport of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane from inside the matrix to the inter membrane space
Coenzyme Q is also called
ubiquinone
Which complex does not pump protons
2
Transfers electrons from a two-electron carrier to a one-electron carrier
Q cycle
Describe the path by which electrons from FADH2 enter the ETC
Succinate dehydrogenase, which forms FADH2, is part of the succinate-Q reductase complex (Complex 2). The FADH2 does not leave this complex, but transfers electrons to the iron-sulfur centers of the complex, and then to Q.