Intro to Metabolism

Question 1

What is metabolism?

Answer 1

The entire network of chemical reactions that take place in a living cells in an organised and coordinated manner is known as metabolism. It involves acquiring and using free energy to carry out functions.

Question 2

What is the purpose of metabolism?

Answer 2

1. Degradation of energy rich materials.
2. Convert food materials into building blocks for protein, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acid synthesis.
3. Elimination of nitrogenous wastes.

Question 3

What are the three main metabolic pathways?

Answer 3

1. Catabolism
2. Anabolism
3. Amphibolism

Question 4

What is the difference between catabolism and anabolism?

Answer 4

Catabolism:
1. Exergonic
2. Oxidation
3. Hydrolysis

Anabolism:
1. Endergonic
2. Reduction
3. Dehydration

Question 6

What are the three stages of metabolism?

Answer 6

1. Hydrolysis of macromolecules to subunits.
2. Conversion of subunits to a form that can be completely oxidised.
3. Oxidisation to give ATP.

Question 7

What is the role of ATP in the body?

Answer 7

1. Biosynthesis of biomolecules
2. Active transport of substances across the cell membrane
3. Mechanical work in the form of muscle contraction

Question 8

What is the energy currency of the cell?

Answer 8

ATP

Question 9

What makes ATP a high energy molecule?

Answer 9

The presence of 2 phosphoanhydride bonds, which when broken release a lot of energy.

Question 10

Which enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP?

Answer 10

ATPase

Question 11

Which enzyme catalyses the formation of ATP?

Answer 11

ATP synthetase

Question 12

What is the basic unit of metabolism?

Answer 12

Enzymes

Question 13

What are metabolites?

Answer 13

Metabolites are substrates of enzymes involved in metabolic reactions.

Question 14

What is a metabolic pathway?

Answer 14

A metabolic pathway is a series of enzymatic reactions that produce a specific product.