Midterm Flashcards
Metabolism
- Refers to enzyme catalyzed reactions collectively
- It is highly coordinated and provides purposeful cell activity in which many multienzyme systems cooperate
- It is the sum of anabolism and catabolism
- Anabolism = biosynthetic reactions, small simple molecules are converted into larger and more complex molecules (require energy)
- Catabolism = breakdown or degradation reactions, organic nutrient molecules are converted into smaller simpler molecules (produce energy)
Functions of Metabolism
- To obtain chemical energy from the degradation of energy-rich nutrients from the environment or from captured solar energy
- To convert nutrient molecules into building blocks of cell macromolecules
- To assemble these building blocks into macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides)
- To form and degrade biomolecules required in specialized functions of cells
Energy is Required to Meet Three Fundamental Needs
- Energy is required to power muscle contractions, cell movement, and biosynthesis
- Phototrophs obtain energy by capturing sunlight
- Chemotrophs obtain energy through the oxidation of carbon fuels
Basic Principles Govern Energy Manipulation in all Cells
- Molecules are degraded or synthesized stepwise in a series of reactions termed metabolic pathways
- ATP is the energy currency of life
- ATP can be formed by the oxidation of carbon fuels (most oxidized is CO2)
- A limited number of reaction types that involve particular intermediates are common to all metabolic pathways
- Metabolic pathways are highly regulated (building and degrading)
- The enzymes involved in metabolism are organized into large complexes
Metabolic Pathways
- Term is used for a sequence of reactions
- They could be Linear, Branched, or Circular
- Reactions could be reversible or irreversible, regulated and usually the first reaction catalyzes a committed step
- The intermediates in a metabolic pathway are referred as metabolites
- Reactants and Products are referred as Substrates and Products
Linear Metabolic Pathways
- Reactions could be reversible or irreversible
- Usually, the first reaction of a metabolic pathway is irreversible, Regulates and catalyzes a committed step
(Lesson 1, Slide 7)
In order to construct a metabolic pathway, two criteria must be met:
- The individual reaction must be specific
- The pathway in total must be thermodynamically favourable
- A thermodynamically unfavourable reaction in a pathway can be driven by coupling to a more favourable reaction (loop-de-loop roller coaster)
Branched Metabolic Pathways
- Linear path with multiple ends
- Too much of one can become an allosteric inhibitor for another
(Lesson 1, Slide 10)
Circular Metabolic Pathways
i.e. The Citric Acid Cycle
Metabolism is Composed of Many Interconnecting Reactions
- Metabolism is a series of linked reactions that convert a specific reactant into a specific product
- The entire set of cellular metabolic reactions are called intermediary metabolism
Metabolic Pathways can be divided into two types
- Catabolic pathways combust carbon fuels to synthesize ATP
- Anabolic pathways use ATP and reducing power to synthesize large biomolecules
- Amphibolic pathways, can function anabolically or catabolically
- Although anabolic and catabolic pathways may have reactions in common, the regulated, irreversible reactions are always distinct
Principles of Bioenergetics
- Transformation and use of energy by living cells
Thermodynamic Laws
First Law: in any physical or chemical change the total amount of energy in the universe remains constant
Second Law: the amount of entropy (total disorder) in the environment increases as a result of all chemical or physical changes
Free Energy (G)
- The kind of energy that performs useful work at constant temperature and pressure
- If △G is negative, the reaction is exergonic (initial G is higher than final G)
- If △G is positive, the reaction is endergonic (initial G is lower than the final G)
- Standard free eneregy chamge (at 1M initial concentration and 1 amp) at pH 7.0 is written delta △G °’
Heat Energy (H)
- Total heat content (energy) of a system referred as enthalpy occurs through a change of temperature and pressure