Redox Reactions

Question 1

What is catabolism

Answer 1

breakdown of large molecules into simpler molecules

Question 2

What is anabolism

Answer 2

build up of small molecules into larger molecules

Question 3

What is the single centrally important metabolite in metabolism

Answer 3

acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA)

Question 4

Catabolic pathways ______________

Answer 4

converge

Question 5

Anabolic pathways ______________

Answer 5

diverge

Question 6

What are the intermediate steps of the metabolic pathway called

Answer 6

metabolites

Question 7

Are mebtabolic pathways reversible

Answer 7

no! contain at least one reaction that is thermodynamically very favourable

Question 8

If a reaction of A - B - C - D is carried out by enzymes E1, E2, and E3 respectively, what would be inhibited to isolate C

Answer 8

E3

Question 9

What are the three ways of eludicating metabolic pathways in the body

Answer 9

metabolic inhibitors, biochemical genetics (ie. disease or auxotrophs), and the use of radioactively labelled structures

Question 10

How do metabolic inhibitors elucidate metabolic pathways

Answer 10

an enzyme in the pathway of reactions is inhibited to cause a build up of whatever molecule is previous

Question 11

How do genetic diseases eludicate metabolic pathways

Answer 11

enzyme is inhibited (similar to the function of metabolic inhibitors) and the reaction can not proceed further
ie. alkaptonuria (black pee)

Question 12

How can the use of auxotrophic mutants elucidate metabolic pathways

Answer 12

exposing wild type to a mutagen and identifying the mutants by their requirements for end-product of the pathway (identify the metabolites that accumulate)

Question 13

How can the use of radioactively labeled substrates elucidate metabolic pathways

Answer 13

ie. C14 oppose to C12, C14 has the same function but can be traced due to its flash of energy when it decays, so products synthesized using C14 can be traced

Question 14

What does n represent in redox reactions

Answer 14

the number of electrons being transferred

Question 15

In order to find out which molecule will have a greater tendency to accept available electrons, what must be found

Answer 15

standard reduction potential (E0)

Question 16

Electrons always flow to the half reaction with the ___________ reduction potential

Answer 16

higher

Question 17

If E0 is greater than 0, what can occur in redox reactions

Answer 17

they can occur spontaneously

Question 18

What is the equation for delta G0

Answer 18

delta G0 = -nF(delta E0’)

where F is Faradays constant: 96.5 x 10^3 J/V
n is the number of electrons transferred