Producing ATP from Metabolic Pathways

Question 1

Which metabolic processes are required to create a lot of ATP during strenuous exercise?

Choose 4 of the following processes: Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, common metabolic pathway, anaerobic respiration

Answer 1

Process 1: Glycolysis

Process 2: Glycogenolysis

Process 3: common metabolic pathway

Process 4: Anaerobic respiration

Question 2

Explain why Glycolysis is required to produce ATP.

Answer 2

Glycolysis itself creates two ATP and pyruvate. Pyruvate can be converted into acetyl CoA which then enters the CMP to generate a lot more ATP.

Question 3

Explain why Glycogenolysis is required to produce ATP.

Answer 3

Glycogenolysis is the metabolic reaction that breaks down glycogen into free glucose (from liver).

The glucose is then taken out of the cell into the blood and trafficked to where it is required. eg. glucose-dependent organs (brain and the kidney) or other organs that require glucose at that time such as the muscle.

Once it reaches these organs, glycolysis and the CMP are employed to generate a lot of ATP from the glucose.

Question 4

Explain why CMP is required to produce ATP.

Answer 4

Carbohydrate derived acetyl CoA enters the CMP to generate a lot of ATP.

Begins with the CAC where the electron-rich coenzymes are made (NADH and FADH2) and taken to the ETC where the electrons stripped from the coenzymes are passed along the chain of protein complexes in the ETC.

The ETC is coupled to another process called OP, which produces ATP by using the energy from movement of H+ through ATP synthase.

Question 5

Explain why Anaerobic Respiration is required to produce ATP.

Answer 5

After most of the oxygen in the muscle is used up, anaerobic respiration is used which does not require oxygen.

Anaerobic respiration converts pyruvate to lactate, causing the lactic acid (lactate) to build up in the muscles. This is a redox reaction that produces NAD+ from NADH.

The NAD+ is used in step 6 of glycolysis, which allows glycolysis to continue (making 2 ATP at a time).

Question 6

Which hormone assists the individual in obtaining energy from glycogen during strenuous exercise?

Explain by referencing the consequence of activating the identified metabolic process.

Answer 6

Glucagon activates the glycogen breakdown process, glycogenolysis.

After the glycogen is broken down into glucose, the glucose is then taken out of the cell and moves into the blood.

Once in the blood, the glucose can move to the organ that requires the glucose to produce ATP e.g. muscle or brain.