Key Area 2.1: Metabolic pathways

Question 1

What is metabolism?

Answer 1

Metabolism is the name given to all of the chemical reactions that take place in living cells

Question 2

What is a metabolic pathway?

Answer 2

A metabolic pathway is a series of step wise chemical reactions controlled by enzymes

Question 3

What is Anabolism?

give an example w answer

Answer 3

Anabolism is the name given to anabolic pathways which are biosynthetic processes which involve building up simpler substances to create complex molecules. This action requires energy.

An example of this would protein synthesis as amino acids are built up to create protein, and ATP is required as energy

Question 4

What is catabolism?

give an example w answer

Answer 4

Catabolism is the name given to the catabolic pathway (similar to anabolic) which is the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler substances, this usually releases energy. Catabolism can also provide building blocks for other chemical reactions.

An example of this would be the breakdown of glucose and resulting in the release of energy in the form of ATP

Question 5

What is a Irreversible and reversible step?

Answer 5

An irreversible step is a step during a metabolic pathway which once done cannot be undone, and a reversible step is the same but once done you can go back and undo it

Question 6

What do membranes consist of?

Answer 6

Membranes consist of proteins and phospholipid

Question 7

list the features of a mitochondrion?

Answer 7

outer membrane, crista (fold in inner membrane), matrix (containing enzymes for citric acid cycle, inner membrane surface (site of the electron transport chain

Question 8

list the features of a chloroplast?

Answer 8

outer membrane,granum ( stack of inner membrane) and stroma