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Higher Biology > Unit 2.1 Metabolic Parhways > Flashcards

Unit 2.1 Metabolic Parhways Flashcards

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1
Q

What is metabolism?

A

Metabolism is the collective term for the thousands of biochemical reactions that occur within a living cell.

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2
Q

What are metabolic pathways?

A

Metabolic pathways are integrated and controlled pathways of enzyme-catalysed reactions within a cell.

For example, the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate is a metabolic pathway.

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3
Q

What is metabolism?

A

Metabolism is the collective term for the thousands of biochemical reactions that occur within a living cell.

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4
Q

What are metabolic pathways?

A

Metabolic pathways are integrated and controlled pathways of enzyme-catalysed reactions within a cell.

Example: The breakdown of glucose to pyruvate is a metabolic pathway.

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5
Q

What are the two types of metabolic pathways?

A

The two types of metabolic pathways are:
1. Anabolic (Synthesis)
2. Catabolic (Degradation)

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6
Q

What is an anabolic reaction?

A

An anabolic reaction is the buildup of larger complex molecules from simpler building blocks. Energy is required for these reactions.

Example: Anabolic steroids are sometimes used by athletes to increase muscle mass.

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7
Q

What is a catabolic reaction?

A

A catabolic reaction is the breakdown of larger complex molecules into smaller ones. Energy is released during these reactions.

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8
Q

What are metabolic pathways controlled by?

A

Metabolic pathways are controlled by the presence or absence of particular enzymes and the regulation of the rate of reaction of key enzymes.

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9
Q

What is the role of enzymes in metabolic pathways?

A

Enzymes control the rate of reaction in metabolic pathways.

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10
Q

How are Metabolic pathways controlled

A
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11
Q

What kind of steps can metabolic pathways have

A
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12
Q

Irreversible

A
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13
Q

Reversible

A
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14
Q

Alternative route

A
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15
Q

What are reversible steps in metabolic pathways?

A

Reversible steps allow intermediates to convert back to previous intermediates.

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16
Q

Can you give an example of a reversible step?

A

During fermentation in animal cells, pyruvate can be converted to lactate and vice versa.

Example: Pyruvate ↔ Lactate

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17
Q

What are irreversible steps in metabolic pathways?

A

Irreversible steps occur when it is favorable for the cell, maintaining low concentrations of certain metabolites.

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18
Q

Can you give an example of an irreversible step?

A

During glycolysis, glucose is irreversibly converted to an intermediate.

Example: Glucose → Intermediate

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19
Q

What are alternative routes in metabolic pathways?

A

Alternative routes allow certain steps to be bypassed in metabolic pathways.

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20
Q

Can you give an example of an alternative route?

A

Glucose can be converted to sorbitol when the cell has a high concentration of glucose.

Example: Glucose → Sorbitol

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21
Q

What is induced fit?

A

Induced fit is the process where the active site changes its shape to fit the substrate, ensuring close contact and increasing the chances of a reaction.

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22
Q

What does high affinity mean in the context of enzymes?

A

High affinity means that substrate molecules are strongly attracted to the active site.

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23
Q

What happens to the affinity of products in enzyme reactions?

A

Products have a low affinity for the active site, encouraging them to leave, which allows the enzyme to be reused.

24
Q

Diagram of indices fit

A
25
Q

What is activation energy?

A

Activation energy is the energy needed to break the chemical bonds allowing a chemical reaction to take place.

26
Q

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

A

Enzymes lower activation energy.

27
Q

What is a metaphor for activation energy?

A

It is like rolling a boulder down a hill, but having to push it up a small hump first.

28
Q

What happens after the initial push in the boulder metaphor?

A

After the initial push, the boulder rolls on.

29
Q

How do enzymes relate to the boulder metaphor?

A

Enzymes make the small hump even smaller.

30
Q

What is embedded in cell membranes?

A

Protein pores, pumps, and enzymes are embedded in membranes.

31
Q

How does increasing substrate concentration affect the rate of reaction?

A

Increasing substrate concentration increases the rate of a reaction until a certain point is reached.

32
Q

What happens to the reaction rate at low substrate concentration?

A

At low substrate concentration, the reaction rate is low since there are too few substrate molecules to make maximum use of all active sites.

33
Q

What is concentration?

A

Concentration refers to the amount of a substance in a given volume.

Example: A higher concentration of substrate can lead to a faster reaction rate.

34
Q

What is the effect of increasing substrate concentration on the rate of reaction?

A

Increasing substrate concentration increases the rate of reaction as more active sites become involved.

Example: As substrate concentration rises from 0 to 10, the reaction rate increases.

35
Q

What happens to the reaction rate as substrate concentration increases?

A

The reaction rate levels off as there is further increase in substrate concentration.

36
Q

Why does the reaction rate level off?

A

All active sites have become occupied.

37
Q

What factors affect enzyme activity?

A

Factors affecting enzyme activity include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and inhibitors.

38
Q

What is an inhibitor?

A

An inhibitor acts by slowing down or stopping the rate at which an enzyme-controlled reaction can work.

39
Q

What are the types of inhibitors?

A

There are three types of inhibitors: competitive, non-competitive, and end point inhibition.

40
Q

What are competitive inhibitors?

A

Competitive inhibitors bind at the active site, preventing the substrate from binding.

41
Q

How do competitive inhibitors function?

A

Competitive inhibitors are similar in shape to the substrate, allowing them to fit into the active site.

42
Q

What are examples of competitive inhibitors?

A

Examples of competitive inhibitors include alcohol, statins, and methotrexate.

43
Q

How does ethanol act as a competitive inhibitor?

A

Ethanol is a competitive inhibitor to antifreeze for the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, treating antifreeze poisoning.

44
Q

How does methotrexate act as a competitive inhibitor?

A

Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug that inhibits an enzyme involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA in cancer cells.

45
Q

How do statins work as competitive inhibitors?

A

Statin drugs lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, involved in cholesterol synthesis.

46
Q

Is competitive inhibition reversible?

A

Yes, competitive inhibition is reversible and can be reversed by increasing substrate concentration.

47
Q

What are non-competitive inhibitors?

A

Non-competitive inhibitors bind away from the active site but change the shape of the active site, preventing the substrate from binding.

48
Q

What are examples of non-competitive inhibitors?

A

Examples of non-competitive inhibitors include lead and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

49
Q

How does lead act as a non-competitive inhibitor?

A

Lead acts as a non-competitive inhibitor of many enzymes in the human body, mimicking other metals involved in biological processes.

50
Q

How do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors function?

A

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors increase the concentration of a neurotransmitter in the brain, improving cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.

51
Q

What is the effect of cyanide as a non-competitive inhibitor?

A

Cyanide binds to an enzyme involved in the release of ATP by respiration, affecting tissues that depend on aerobic respiration.

52
Q

What is feedback inhibition?

A

Feedback inhibition occurs when the end-product in the metabolic pathway reaches a critical concentration.

53
Q

What happens when the end-product reaches a critical concentration?

A

The end-product inhibits an earlier enzyme, blocking the pathway.

54
Q

What is the effect of feedback inhibition on the synthesis of the end-product?

A

It prevents further synthesis of the end-product.

55
Q

What are the enzymes involved in the metabolic pathway?

A

Enzyme 1, Enzyme 2, and Enzyme 3.

Higher Biology (14 decks)

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