Week 3 (carbohydrate metabolism) Flashcards
What is metabolism?
The chemical processes that occur in living organisms, resulting in growth, production of energy, and elimination of waster.
Define catabolism
The break down of complex molecules, releasing energy
Define synthesis (anabolism)
Formation of complex molecules from simple starting materials
What are metabolic pathways?
A series of reactions connected together.
What is direction and speed of a pathway determined by?
The relative concentrations of each substrate.
Enzymes
Explain the rate limiting step in metabolic pathways
The rate limiting step controls how quickly the initial substrate is converted into the end product. The slowest step determines the speed of all reactions in the pathway.
What is Gibbs free energy and state its equation
Is a measure of available chemical energy.
G = H - TS
H: enthalpy (heat content)
T: temperature (Kelvins)
S: entropy (heat loss)
What type of reaction will be:
1. spontaneous
2. not spontaneous
- exergonic
- endergonic
Describe enzymes
Protein
Catalyse reactions in metabolism
Very specific
Act as control points in metabolism
What is enzyme action affected by?
Substrate concentration
Enzyme activity and concentration
Inhibition
Co-enzymes and co-factors
What do enzymes have binding sites for?
Substrate
Co-enzymes
Co-factors
Inhibitors
Explain competitive inhibitors
Prevent the substrate from binding
Competes for active site
Explain non-competitive inhibitors
Does not prevent substrate binding
Alters shape of enzyme
Explain allosteric enzymes
Usually contain 2 or more subunits.
Binding of the substrate alters the shape of enzyme.
Substrate binding increases the affinity for further substrates.
What does the first part of an enzymes name represent?
Substrate
What does the second part of an enzymes name represent?
Reaction
List the actions of enzymes and explain what happens
Kinase: add/removes phosphate group.
Dehydrogenase: removed H (oxidisation)
Decarboxylase: add/remove carboxyl group
Isomerase/mutase: rearranges (forms isomers)
Transferase: transfers functional groups
Hydrolase/lipase: adds water (hydrolysis)
Explain the role of enzymes in reversible reactions
The reactions in both directions is catalysed by the same enzyme.
Explain the role of enzymes in irreversible reactions
The reaction in each direction will be catalysed by different enzymes.
What is energy needed for in the body?
Synthesis of complex molecule
Active transport of molecules and ions
Muscular contraction
Cellular movement
What is ATP?
The energy currency of the body
What happens to ATP in anabolism/synthesis?
It is used up
What happens to ATP in catabolism?
Produces ATP
What happens to carbohydrates. lipids and alcohol during metabolism?
Broken down or stored for energy
Synthesis of body molecules
What happens to proteins during metabolism?
Synthesis of body molecules
Can be used for energy
What happens to minerals in metabolism?
Act as co-factors
Important for nervous and muscle action
What happens to vitamins during metabolism?
Act as co-enzymes and antioxidants
Name the key carbohydrates that are supplied in the diet
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
Name the 4 monosaccharides that naturally occur in food
Glucose
Fructose
Galactose
Ribose
Name the 3 disaccharides and state what monosaccharides they are made from
Sucrose = glucose +fructose
Maltose = glucose + glucose
Lactose = glucose + galactose
Name and explain the two polysaccharides that make up starch
Amylose (15-30%): long, largely unbranched chains of D-glucose.
Amylopectin (70-85%): branched chains of D-glucose.
What is glycogen?
Mammalian storage polysaccharide of glucose.
What is cellulose?
The main polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.
A non-starch polysaccharide.
Major component of dietary fibre.
Individual chains are bound to each other through hydrogen bonding to form cellulose microfibrils.
Provide strength to cell walls in all directions.
What are non-starch polysaccharides?
Isomers of glucose joined together
What state is a carbohydrate in when it is absorbed?
Monosaccharide
What is carbohydrate metabolism actually representing?
Glucose metabolism