Chemistry 153C

Discussion 1

Questions

Principles of Metabolism

1. What are the properties of ATP that make it a particularly appropriate high energy molecule for
biological processes?
2. The following reactions of glycolysis illustrate several important types of reaction:
1. Oxidation reactions in catabolic pathways
2. Coupled reactions
3. Substrate-level phosphorylation reactions
NAD+ + Pi NADH + H+ ADP ATP

GA3P 1,3 Bisphosphoglycerate 3-Phosphoglycerate

Glyceraldehyde-3-P (1,3 BPG) Phosphoglycerate (3PGA)
Dehydrogenase Kinase

Identify the enzyme illustrating each of these types of reactions and explain the biological
significance of this type of reaction.
3. The Gibbs Free Energy change (G) for the following reaction
X Y
is
[Y]
!G = RTlnKeq + RTln
[X]
Using this equation, explain how changes in metabolite concentrations can make this reaction
thermodynamically favorable in one direction or the other.
What is the relevance of this property for the operation of anabolic and catabolic pathways such as
glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.
4. The velocity of an enzyme catalyzed reaction is usually described by the Michaelis-Menton
Equation:
k[E][S]
V=
Km + [S]
Regulation of metabolism involves controlling the rate of specific enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
Briefly describe one biological mechanism by which each component of the Michaelis-Menton
rate equation (k, [E], [S], and Km) can be regulated to control the velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed
reaction.

Chem 153C Discussion 1 Page 1

 Review of Central Metabolic Pathways

1. Briefly indicate the circumstances which would favor homolactate fermentation versus alcohol
fermentation as the mechanism for regeneration of NAD+ for glycolysis.
2. What are the consequences of O2 limitation for the continued operation of the citric acid cycle?
Explain both what would happen if O2 is not available and why these effects would happen.

Hexose Metabolism

1. Briefly identify the two general mechanisms by which sugars are converted to components of the
glycolytic pathway by drawing the structure of 1-step conversion of mannose-6-P to a metabolite
of a central metabolic pathway. Identify the nature of the reaction by labeling the arrow with the
appropriate name.
CH2 OP
O
H H
H
OH HO
HO OH

H H

CH2 OP
O
H H
H
OH HO
HO OH

H H

2. Hexokinase catalyzes the reaction, glucose + ATP > glucose-6-P + ADP

(a) Why does skeletal muscle have more of this enzyme than liver?
(b) What are the consequences of this difference for carbohydrate metabolism in these tissues?
3. Suggest why the liver has two pathways capable of metabolizing glyceraldehyde (HINT: think
about the general function of the liver in mammals).
4. During fructose metabolism in mammalian liver, defects in fructose-1-P aldolase or an excess of
fructose in the diet lead to a significant decrease in blood glucose level (hypoglycemia). How do
these metabolic or dietary problems lead to hypoglycemia.
5. Large consumption of soft drinks can lead to severe liver damage. Identify the component of the
diet soft drinks responsible for this effect and outline (list) the logical progression of events leading
to liver damage under such conditions:
6. UDP-Galactose-4-Epimerase catalyzes the following reaction:
CH2OH CH2OH
O O
HO H [NAD+] H H
H H
O O
OH H OH H
H O P UMP UDP-Galactose- HO O P UMP
O 4-Epimerase O
H OH H OH

UDP-Galactose UDP-Glucose

Briefly summarize the role(s) of this enzyme in galactose metabolism.

Chem 153C Discussion 1 Page 2