M2: Catabolism of non-Glucose + Photosynthesis

Question 1

catabolism of polysaccharides

Answer 1

• too big to cross plasma membrane of cell –> microbes secrete enzymes to break them down
• absorbed via direct contact w/microbe

Question 2

catabolism of proteins

Answer 2

• broken into subunits/individual amino acids by proteases

- amino acids serve as rich source of energy bc contain carbon, energy, nitrogen, and sulfur

Question 3

proteases

Answer 3

specific enzymes that break down proteins

Question 4

catabolism of lipids

Answer 4

• lipases separate fatty acid chain from glycerol backbone
• backbone processed for carbon and energy
• fatty acid chain degraded via β-oxidation pathway
• rich in energy (contain many reduced carbon molecules) –> up to 48 ATP produced!

Question 5

lipase

Answer 5

specific enzymes that break down lipids

Question 6

β-oxidation pathway

Answer 6

process of degrading the fatty acid chain, produces up to 48 ATP molecules from a single lipid derived carbon atom

Question 7

photosynthesis

Answer 7

• process of capturing light and converting its energy into ATP
• occurs in chloroplasts

Question 8

chloroplasts

Answer 8

double-membrane organelles that house chlorophyll, where photosynthesis occurs

Question 9

first step of photosynthesis

Answer 9

photo-phosphorylation aka light reaction

Question 10

photo-phosphorylation in depth

Answer 10

• process of converting light energy into chemical energy
• reactions occur in chloroplasts’ membranes
• main function = generate proton concentration gradient to produce ATP and NADPH
• enables dark reaction

Question 11

second step of photosynthesis

Answer 11

calvin cycle aka dark reaction

Question 12

calvin cycle in depth

Answer 12

• light is not required
• uses ATP + NADPH to perform carbon fixation
• primary purpose = produce G3P
• end products enable light reaction (NADP + ADP)
• 6 repetitions of calvin cycle form 1 molecule glucose

Question 13

carbon fixation

Answer 13

converting CO2 + H2O into organic carbons and useful carbohydrates

Question 14

G3P

Answer 14

• aka glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
• 3-carbon compound
• eventually becomes glucose

Question 15

calvin cycle reaction formula

Answer 15

6CO2 + 18ATP+ 12NADPH +12H2O –>
C6H12O6 + 18ADP + 12NADP+

(after 6 rounds of calvin cycle)