Lecture 6 - Metabolism Flashcards
(133 cards)
what is the definition of metabolism?
the sum total of all chemical reactions in a cell
what is the importance of metabolism?
metabolism is important because it helps with the identification of unknowns. this is because each bacterium has a unique metabolic signature (like a fingerprint) that can be used to identify it.
what is another reason for the importance of metabolism?
we can use the knowledge of unique metabolic processes that we can:
- Exploit commercially (example: oil degradation, making fermented products like cheese, and biofuel like ethanol.
- Use metabolism as antimicrobial “targets” to kill bad microbes.
what are the two categories of metabolism?
-Catabolism
-Anabolism
what is catabolism/catabolic pathways?
Catabolic pathways:
-Break down large molecules into small ones.
-Releases energy.
Example: catabolism of glucose
(hint: catabolism = cut)
what is anabolism/anabolic pathways?
Anabolic pathways:
-Build larger molecules from small ones.
-Requires energy.
Example: photosynthesis (building of glucose)
what links the two processes of catabolism and anabolism?
Energy and precursor metabolites (small molecules)
-(Catabolic processes harvest the energy that is released during the breakdown of molecules and uses it to make ATP. Catabolic pathways also produce precursor metabolites used in biosynthesis (which is anabolism)).
-(Anabolic processes (biosynthesis) synthesize and assemble subunits of macromolecules that make up the cell structures. Anabolic pathways also use the ATP and precursor metabolites produced in catabolism).
we store energy released from catabolic reactions and store it as what?
ATP
what is the function of ATP?
it is the energy currency of the cell
what is the potential energy of ATP?
it has high potential energy
why do we use ATP/why is it important?
because it:
-is an instantaneous source of energy.
-it is flexible (you can use less/more of it).
-is it rechargeable.
what is the structure of ATP?
adenosine triphosphate with 3 phosphates.
(adenine, ribose (sugar), and phosphate groups)
what does ATP become? what is it converted to?
ADP
adenosine diphosphate.
(adenine, ribose (sugar), and phosphate groups)
when energy is inputted into ATP, what does it become? when energy is taken out?
When energy is put in, it becomes ATP.
When energy is taken out of ATP, it becomes ADP + Pi. (This cycle goes on)
(Energy is released as a phosphate group and is ejected from ATP)
metabolic pathway:
A series of chemical reactions are catalyzed by _____ that convert substrate(s) into product(s)?
Enzymes
what are enzymes?
they are the macromolecules (proteins) to help start a reaction
what are in between the substrate and end products in a metabolic pathway?
intermediates
what is the function of enzymes? What is the role in metabolism?
they help catalyze (initiate and accelerate) chemical reactions.
Catabolism of glucose into smaller molecules like carbon dioxide and water releases
energy and electrons.
a. How is the energy stored in the cell?
b. what happens to the electrons?
a. How is the energy stored in the cell? The energy is stored in the cell as ATP.
b. What happens to the electrons? The electrons are first dumped onto empty dump trucks (NAD+ and FAD) to form loaded dump trucks (NADH and FADH2). Ultimately NADH and FADH2 dump electrons onto the terminal electron acceptors.
what is the structure of enzymes? what type of macromolecule are they?
protein
Enzymes bind to the reactant or ____ in a pocket called the ____ _____.
Substrate; active site
Enzymes catalyze a reaction to form a product that is then ejected from where?
from the active site
do enzymes change?
no they remain UNCHANGED at the end of the reaction
what is the requirement for enzymes to be attached to a substrate?
they just have to be really specific for the substrate