Section 1: Bioenergetics Flashcards
Formation of polymers
Forms through dehydration (- H2O)
Breaks through hydrolysis (+ H2O)
Constructed of monomers
How much of the body is occupied by polymers?
~80%
The remaining 20% of a cell are monomers and other small molecules
Types of polymers
Lipids
Polysaccharides (carbohydrates)
Proteins
Nucleic acid
Building block of lipids
Acetates, which join tgt to form acyl chains
Lipids and phosphate
Lipids can grow to form hydrophobic fatty acid (acyl) chains
Addition of phosphate makes fatty acids amphipathic
Acyl chains can be…
Saturated or unsaturated
Lipids - functions
Energy storage (mass, energy of glycogen, a complex storage sugar) Structural molecules (membranes) Steroids (all from cholesterol, some further made into electron carriers and vitamins)
Lipids: Structure of a fat molecule
Ester linkages, which link glycerol and acyl chains together
The cell membrane is formed of a…
Phospholipid bilayer
Phospholipids - replication
No genetic info required, just physical laws of stability of vesicle size
Could have been the first form of replication
How are sugars formed
From central pathways (trioses)
Monosaccharides
Single sugars
Different types
Disaccharides and oligosaccharides
Form from several mixed sugar types
Disaccharide: 2 sugar molecules
How are polysaccharides formed
Formed from many repeated sugar units connected by glycosidic bonds
Specific glycosidic bonds determine flexibility
Polysaccharides - function
Energy storage (starch and glycogen) Structural molecules - used by plants and animals to form structures, e.g. cellulose, chitin Carbohydrate residues can be joined to proteins or lipids (glycoproteins/lipids)
Starch
A storage polysaccharide in plants
Polymer of glucose monomers
Stored as granules in plastids, e.g. chloroplasts
Glycogen
Sugar storage in animals
Polymer of glucose monomers - more extensively branched than starch –> more flexible with α 1-4 bonds
Large stores in liver and muscle cells
Cellulose
Structural polysaccharide in plants
Polymer of glucose (not branched)
Stored in cell wall
Most abundant organic compound on Earth
α vs β glycosidic bonds
α1–>4: starch and glycogen
β1–>4: chitin and cellulose
Subtle difference, but profound effect
Chitin
Structural polysaccharides in animals
Polymer of glucose, but glucose monomer has a N containing appendage
Forms exoskeleton of arthropods and fungi cell walls
Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) - function
Involved in all informational processes
Storage of chemical energy in ATP
Intracellular signalling cAMP
Phosphodiester bond
PO4 3-
Formation leads to elimination of H2O (i.e. dehydration)
Components of nucleic acids
Sugar-phosphate backbone (phosphate group and sugar)
Nitrogenous base
5’ and 3’ end
Types of nitrogenous bases
Pyrimidines:
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T in DNA)
Uracil (U in RNA)
Purines:
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Sugars - DNA vs RNA
One of the Hs in deoxyribose (in DNA) is replaced by OH in ribose (in RNA)
How are proteins formed
Formed from amino acids connected through peptide bonds
Bonds formed through dehydration and break through hydrolysis
Properties of proteins determine…
Protein structure and function
Parts of an amino acid
Amine group
Carboxy terminus
R side group
Life and order
Life generates order (decreases entropy) and drives itself away from equilibrium, but at the expense of making more disorder (increasing entropy)
Passage of energy
Photoautotrophs capture electromagnetic energy of light and converts this to chemical energy
Heterotrophs consume, use and store chemical energy and pass energy onto carnivores
At each passage of energy, some is lost to the universe as heat
Stored energy (via anabolic processes)
Occurs through synthesis of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
These are then catabolised (oxidised) to release energy
O2 required to completely oxidise foodstuffs to CO2 and H2O
Where is energy conserved from oxidation reactions
Within phosphate bonds of ATP
What does ATP stand for
Adenosine triphosphate
Excess dietary fuel
Exceeds body’s immediate energy needs
Stored mainly as glycogen and fat
Provides energy when fasting
Oxidation of these fuels release energy, which often use Acetyl-Co Enzyme A
Gibb’s free energy - equation
ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
ΔH (enthalpy) = q + w (aka heat + work done)
T (temperature)
ΔS (entropy)
ATP
Almost universal - cells also use GTP, UTP and creatine phosphate
Likely ancestral
High ΔG –> can make the unfavourable favourable (spontaneous)
Much higher tendency for ATP –> ADP + Pi than the other way around
How does ATP release energy
From electrically charged phosphates, which change molecular properties and do work
ATP phosphates
Electrical charges are crowded among phosphates, especially the terminal phosphate –> leaves more easily and can bind and carry with it the electrical charge
This charge can then alter the conformation of a protein, altering the protein elsewhere
In the cell, most hydroxyl groups of phosphates are ionised (O-)
Two fundamental laws of thermodynamics
- Energy is not created nor destroyed, it just changes form
- The overall entropy of the universe is increasing
These laws are the foundation of Gibb’s equation
Universe tends toward…
Disorder
More disorder –> increased entropy (rotting apple) - exothermic
More disorder –> going towards equilibrium
When a reaction reaches equilibrium…
They go no further
Anabolic processes
Build things up
Heat
The end result of all processes
Dissipates into the universe
Negative ΔG
The more -ve the ΔG, the greater the likelihood a reaction occurs
When is most ΔG in ATP released
Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate
ΔG of ATP is greater than the sum of ‘products of formation’ of ADP + Pi –> can drive rxns that would otherwise go too slowly or not at all
Anabolic vs catabolic processes
Anabolic: creates molecules the body needs for functionality and uses energy in the process
Catabolic: breaks down complex molecules and releases energy which is available for the body to use
Example of anabolic vs catabolic processes
Anabolic: photosynthesis in chloroplasts —organic molecules + O2—> cellular respiration in mitochondria
Catabolic: cellular respiration in mitochondria —CO2 + H2O—> photosynthesis in chloroplasts
Combustion of different food sources
Diff food sources release diff amounts of energy when combusted
Least to most: Carbohydrate Protein Alcohol Fat
Metabolism of different food sources
Least to most: Alcohol Fat Protein Carbohydrate
Why is combustion different to metabolism
Access to C-C bonds, internal and not easily accessed
Metabolic enzymes work on C-H and O-H bonds
Molecules must be rearranged
Fat
May have less energy for outright mass, but stores well and has no associated water
Can’t be metabolised without O2
Stages of catabolism
- Hydrolysis of complex molecules to their building blocks
- Conversion of building blocks to Acetyl CoA
- Oxidation of acetyl CoA - oxidative phosphorylation
Acetyl-CoA
Hub molecule
ATP - structure
Phosphoanhydride bond - relatively stable in water
Phosphate group has resonance / charge delocalisation
Equilibrium vs non-equilibrium
Equilibrium = less order = higher entropy Non-equilibrium = ordered = low entropy
Life fights equilibrium/entropy
ΔG - purpose
Predicts whether a rxn occurs spontaneously
Predicts max possible change in conc between reactants and products
Does NOT predict rate at which reactions will occur
What does the ° mean in ΔG°
Standard conditions
1 mol/L, pH 7, 25°C
In real life, these conditions are quite different - ΔG is maybe -50-60 kJ/mol
Exergonic reactions
Releases energy
Hydrolysis is dependent on..
Ratio of reactants to products
So, ATP is held at a high conc, and there is more reserve ATP
Human heart - ATP
Contains approx 700mg of ATP - enough to fuel one heartbeat per second for 10s
Formation of glutamine
- ATP phosphorylates glutamic acid, making the amino acid less stable
- Ammonia displaces phosphate group, forming glutamine
Note: enzyme glutamine synthetase required
Net ΔG is -ve
Does glycolysis require oxygen
No
It is an initial component of aerobic metabolism, but can also operate without oxygen by fermentation to produce lactate or ethanol, but inefficient
Glycolysis enzymes
Enzymes of glycolysis are arranged to form pathways, which increases efficiency of reactions
10 enzymes produce 2 ATP net
Two phases of glycolysis
Energy investment (-2 ATP): - Hexo/Glucokinase - PFK Energy harvesting (+4 ATP): - Phosphoglycerate kinase - Enolase
Important features of glycolysis
Sugar-splitting reaction
Oxidative event that generates reduced NADH
Two specific steps where the reaction sequence is coupled to ATP generation by substrate-level phosphorylation
Glycolysis - steps
- Conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) –> traps glucose –> can’t be transported out of cells - irreversible
Catalysed by hexokinase and glucokinase
Requires energy (2 ATP invested) - G6P rearranged, and another phosphate is invested
- Resulting intermediate then split into 2 molecules of the 3-carbon compound glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
- Each glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate molecule has an additional phosphate added alongside the formation of NADH (by reduction of NAD+)
- 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate is formed
In following reactions, 4 ATP are recaptured by substrate level phosphorylation and 2 pyruvate molecules are formed
Glycolysis - Hexokinase vs glucokinase
Both interact with glucose, but in slightly diff ways
Puts a phosphate on the glucose
Hexokinase:
Expressed in all tissues
High affinity (low Km) for glucose
At very low glucose conc, will already start to add a phosphate to it to form G6P (very sensitive to glucose)
Glucokinase:
Found predominantly in liver (takes up glucose and stores) and pancreatic beta cells (regulates insulin)
Lower affinity (higher Km by ~100x)
Must get up to a reasonable (higher) conc of glucose for it to work - high Vmax
Glycolysis - net reaction
Glucose + 2NAD+ + 2Pi + 2ADP –> 2pyruvate + 2NADH + 2H+ + 2ATP + 2H2O
Stages of cellular respiration
Glycolysis - breaks down glucose into 2 pyruvate molecules
Citric Acid Cycle - completes breakdown of glucose
Oxidative phosphorylation - accounts for most of the ATP synthesis
Lactate
End product of glycolysis during strenuous exercise
Lactate produce in muscle and other tissues can return to liver where it is reconverted to glucose - Cori cycle
For sustained flow of glycolysis…
NAD+ must be regenerated
Anaerobic: NAD is regenerated by LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
Glycolysis: Re-oxidation of NADH
Cells with O2: accomplished by oxidative phosphorylation
Aerobic conditions: O2 may be limiting and ATP demands can exceed capacity of mitochondria
Pyruvate is reduced to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase in cytosol
Glycolysis: Speed and efficiency
Can form ATP very quickly, but not very efficient as it only forms 2 ATP net per glucose (3 ATP if it comes from glycogen
Redox reactions
Oxidation: loss of electrons
Reduction: gain of electrons
Oxidation of C bonds
Energy from C-C = C-H bonds, but C-C can’t be oxidised directly
Must be rearranged to C-OH for oxidation –> electrons ultimately flow to oxygen
Redox reactions use…
Dehydrogenases
Energy release must be…
Controlled, otherwise explosions!
Thus cellular respiration is controlled energy captured in ATP
Glycolysis: NAD+
Acts as an electron shuttle
Water soluble
Glycolysis: Irreversible enzymes
Hexokinase or glucokinase
Phosphofructokinase
Pyruvate kinase
Highly regulated and irreversible in vivo
Glycolysis: At which point is glucose fully committed?
Phosphofructokinase (PFK)
Highly regulated point in pathway (most important regulator)
Another ATP invested
Glycolysis: What is PFK regulated by
High ATP slows down
(ATP –> ADP –>) AMP activates PFK
Citrate inhibits PFK from CAC
Moderately low pH turns PFK on, but when too acidic inhibits PFK –> tight control
Energy yield of glycolysis vs aerobic glucose oxidation
Energy yield of aerobic glucose oxidation much greater
Main functions of CAC cycle
Oxidise acetyl-CoA
Reduce co-enzymes NADH and FADH2
Form ATP (and decrease ADP)
Therefore, principle driving forces for CAC is due to amount of reduced coenzymes and ADP abundance
CAC: Pyruvate (from glycolysis) is converted to…
Acetyl CoA, in an oxidative decarboxylation reaction by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
Then further oxidised to CO2
CAC: Acetyl CoA is produced in most pathways of…
Fuel oxidation
Coenzymes
Complex organic structures, which participate in enzymatic reactions
CAC: Coenzymes
Coenzyme A, NAD+ and FAD
CAC: NAD+ vs FAD
Both are oxidation reduction coenzymes
Both act as electron acceptors
FAD able to accept single electrons and bound
NAD+ is mobile in aqueous environment and accepts 2 e- in one step
FAD has less reducing power
Where do most enzymatic reactions of CAC cycle occur
Mitochondrial matrix or bacterial cytosol
CAC: Oxidation reactions
4, which transfer electrons to NAD+ or FAD by binding Hs to form NADH + H+ and FADH2
Other reactions in the pathway result in rearrangements to facilitate REDOX reactions with NAD+ or FAD
CAC: Oxaloacetate
Regenerated in CAC after oxidation of NAD+ and FAD
Available to react with another molecule of acetyl CoA
Net energy yield from CAC and oxidative phosphorylation
High
~10ATP for each acetyl group oxidised
Energy yield from oxidation of NADH and FADH2 by electron transport and phosphorylation systems
~2.5 ATP per NADH oxidised
~1.5 ATP per FADH2 oxidised
The high-energy phosphate bond of GTP is generated by…
Substrate level phosphorylation
How does CAC ‘control’ ATP utilisation
ATP:ADP ratio
Reduction state as per the NADH/NAD+ ratio (REDOX state) - high NADH = lots of reducing power
Calcium (signal that indicates cells are depolarised/activated and need ATP)
CAC: Examples of key regulatory enzymes
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (αKDH)
CAC: During oxidation of each molecule of acetyl CoA…
Only one molecule of high-energy phosphate (GTP/ATP) is produced
CAC equation for 2 pyruvates
6CO2, 8NADH, 2FADH2, 2GTP (or 2ATP)
Endosymbiosis
A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside the other
Mitochondria
Permits an existence with oxygen (quite toxic and in effect ages us)
Allowed larger cells - cristae increase efficiency of ATP synthesis –> increases cell’s capacity to make ATP –> more complex genomes –> increased gene copy numbers –> possibly drove rapid diversification of genes, cell structures, types and body plans
Junction between glycolysis and CAC
Irreversible step
Very large -ΔG and regulated
Vitamin B1 - Thiamine
Has thiamine pyrophosphate found within pyruvate dehydrogenase
TPP is within E1 - acts to remove CO2
CAC: GTP vs ATP
Liver makes GTP, muscle makes ATP
CAC: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)
Part of ETS Complex II
FAD+ bound within it
Sits in inner mitochondrial membrane
Directly connects oxidation to electron transfer
CAC: Amphibolic
Involves both catabolism and anabolism
CAC: If there is too much succinyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA…
CoA becomes limiting and CAC slows
CAC: ADP/ATP ratio regulates…
IDH activity
10/2 goes faster
2/10 goes slower
CAC: Ca2+ regulates…
PDH, aKDH and IDH
Cholesterol is an important component of…
Animal cell membranes
Glucose + glucose –>
Maltose + water (via dehydration)
Enzymatic reactions involved in glycolysis fatty acid breakdown and CAC cycle conserve most energy into _____
NADH and FADH2, which can transfer their electrical power into usable energy by transferring H+ across membranes
Respiratory complexes
Enzymes that sit on membranes and mediate H+ transfer as electrons from NADH and FADH2 ultimately flow to O2 and reduce it to form H2O
Electron transport system - gradients
H+ accumulates on one side of membrane –> generates gradient, which is harnessed to synthesize ATP
Oxidation of NADH and FADH2 results in…
Release of electrons
What is the electron transport system (ETS)
A sequence of electron-transfer carriers involving electrophilic molecules, e.g. flavins, haeme and iron-sulfur complexes, which transfer electrons in a step-wise manner to O2
ETS: The flow of electrons changes…
The charges of ETS protein complexes so they pump H+ or promote chemical reactions that transfer
ETS: Where are protons transferred
Across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) from matrix to intermembrane space (IMS) –> raises pH in matrix and lowers it in IMS
Therefore, there is a pH gradient and electrical potential
Electron transport carriers that oxidise NADH
Organised into three large membrane spanning complexes: Complex I (CI, aka NADH dehydrogenase) Complex III (aka cytochrome b-c1) Complex IV (aka cytochrome oxidase)
Together form super-complexes / respirosome
Arranged as 3 separate units, but linked functionally by two additional electron carriers; co-enzyme Q and protein cytochrome C
Co-enzyme Q
A lipid soluble molecule (not a protein)
Electrons flowing through the NADH pathway drive…
Proton pumps of complex I and IV, and the chemical transfer of protons at complex III
All develop a H+ gradient
Electron transport carriers that oxidise FADH2
Mediated by a second electron transport linked to CII
Part of CII is succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is what FADH2 is bound to and most likely stops dangerous free radical production
Flow from FADH2 (oxidised to FAD) and are transferred to co-enzyme Q –> electrons flow through complexes III and IV
ETS: Do electrons flow from CI to CII
No
Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)
An enzyme of CAC
NADH vs FADH2 - redox potential
FADH2 has lower redox potential / reducing power
This means that CII itself doesn’t pump protons, but CIII and CIV (downstream) still contribute to proton gradient
ETS: Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)
Specific molecule found within complexes I-IV which act as electron acceptors
Made from vitamin B2
Top part similar to FAD (alloxan rings)
Other e.g. FeS centres, Fe-haeme and Cu2+
Accepts Hs –> accepts electrons, which come from NADH
ETS: Poisons
Several poisons can react with molecules and blockage of ETC at any point prevents formation of ATP
e.g. cyanide
Ubiquinone vs ubiquinol
Ubiquinone has 2 C=O bonds
Ubiquinol replaces those carbonyl groups with two OH groups
Changes conformation
Cytochrome C
Little protein with a haeme in it
Unlike Q, carries e- one at a time
Iron atom changes colour when reduced/oxidised
Found in all aerobic organisms
NADH has a much higher ____ than FADH2
Driving capacity
The energy from fuel oxidation is converted to ATP by the process of…
Oxidative phosphorylation
But, this requires transfer of electrons to oxygen and the coupling of this power to synthesize ATP
Mitochondria and energy demands
The location and number of mitochondria is correlated with a tissue’s energy demands
Complex I (NADH oxidase)
Works as a proton pump Pumps 4 protons per NADH Large L-shaped protein Contains FMN 7 FeS clusters
ΔG for NADH and FADH2
More negative for NADH
Iron-sulphur clusters
e- can effectively flow through these molecules as the Fe atoms can change oxidation state between Fe3+ and Fe2+
Complex I and II both…
Use Q10
Converge on CIII
Complex III
Transfers 4 protons, 2x from reduced QH2, 2x from matrix by Q cycle
Protons deposited on intermembrane space due to chemical reactions, NOT by pumps (technically transferred, not pumped)
Complex III: The complexity of the Q cycle is likely because…
Cytochrome C can only carry one e- at a time (aka cytochrome c oxidase) to CIV
Complex IV - overall
2 protons are pumped and the electrons flow to O2 to form H2O