Metabolism Flashcards
(74 cards)
What is the purpose of metabolism?
Metabolism is a set of chemical reactions that transforms food into energy for cellular activities and build organic molecules necessary for life
Why do cells need to synthesize new organic components?
Cells require new organic components for growth, repair, and maintenance of cellular structures and function
Why do cells need to break down components?
Breaking down components release energy that cells use for various biological processes
What type of reaction are involved in synthesizing new organic molecules? are these reactions energy-consuming or generating?
Synthesis reactions require energy input to build complex molecules
* ex: Anabolic metabolism
what type of reactions are involved in breaking down organic molecules? Do these reactions consume or generate energy?
Break down reactions release energy and are known as catabolic metabolism
Why is energy necessary for cells?
Energy is important for active transport, enzymatic reactions, muscle contraction, and various other cellular processes
What is the unit energy used in biological system called?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
What is glycolysis?
Metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate
Where does glycolysis occur?
It occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell
What molecules are required during glycolysis?
Glucose and ATP
What is the overall energy yield of glycolysis?
Glycolysis produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule
How many ATP molecules are used/ consumed during the process of glycolysis?
2 ATP molecules are used during the energy investment phase of glycolysis
How many ATP molecules are generated/consumed during the process of glycolysis?
4 ATP molecules are produced during energy playoff phase , but 2 ATP were initially used, resulting in a net gain of 2 ATP
How many NADH molecules are produced/used during glycolysis?
2 NADH molecules are produced
List the end products of glycolysis
2 Pyruvate molecules, 2 ATP, 2 NADH molecules
What happenes to NADH produced during glycolysis?
NADH enters mitochondria and participates in the Electron Transport System (ETS) to generate ATP
What is anaerobic respiration?
Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen + involves processes like fermentation. it produces products like **lactic acid or ethanol **and occurs in the cytoplasm
What is the importance of the 1st phosphorylation step in glycolysis?
Phosphorylation of glucose traps it inside the cell and prepares it for further metabolic breakdown
What is aerobic respiration?
Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen + involves glycolysis, the citric cycle, and the electron transport chain. it produces CO2, H2O, and lots of ATP
Steps of glycolysis
- Glucose is modified by adding a phosphate group to carbon number 6
- Another phosphate group is added to carbon number 1 of glucose
- Glucose molecule is split into 2 smaller 3-carbon molecules
- Each of the 3-carbon molecules goes through a series of reaction + is converted into pyruvic acid. During this process each 3-carbon molecules produces 2 ATP and 1 NADH
Since there are two 3-carbon molecules, the total ATP produced is 4 + the total NADH produced is 2
Mitochondria
- Double membraned organelles
- Inner membranes form folds called cristae, and its the site for oxidative phosphorylation
- Produce ATP (powerhouse of cells)
Which metabolic process occurs in mitochondria? what is the purpose of these processes?
Involved in TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and the breakdown of fatty acids
these processes** generate ATP** through efficient oxidation of glucose and other energy-rich molecules
Which byproducts of glucose metabolism enters mitochondria?
Pyruvate, the byproduct of glycolysis, enters mitochondria for further metabolism
Why doesn’t glucose enter mitochondria directly and is metabolized into pyruvate inside mitochondria?
Pyruvate serves as an intermediate that can be further broken down in the TCA cycle. The conversion of glucose to pyruvate allows for controlled energy extraction.