Biochemistry Chapter: Metabolism and Genetics

Study Notes

Anabolism and Catabolism

Anabolism is the process of synthesizing complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.
Catabolism breaks down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Metabolism is the complete set of chemical reactions within cells, incorporating both anabolic and catabolic pathways.

Oxidation

Oxidation removes electrons from molecules, often releasing energy.

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Nucleotides contain a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.

Codon and Triplet

Codon is a sequence of three nucleotides that represent a unit of genetic code within DNA or RNA.
Triplet is another name for a codon, emphasizing its three-nucleotide structure.

Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways are a series of interconnected reactions, organized into steps.
Glycolysis, the first step in cellular respiration, occurs in the cytoplasm; glucose is broken down into two pyruvate molecules.
Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle) occurs in the mitochondria; acetyl-CoA is processed into CO2, generating NADH and FADH2 for the electron transport chain.
Electron Transport Chain located in the inner mitochondrial membrane uses electrons from NADH and FADH2 to create a proton gradient for ATP synthesis via oxidative phosphorylation.

Enzymatic Function

Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed.
Enzymes bind to substrates at their active sites, forming an enzyme-substrate complex.
This complex reduces the activation energy required for reactions.

Cellular Respiration

Aerobic Respiration utilizes oxygen to convert glucose into carbon dioxide and water, producing a large amount of ATP.
Anaerobic Respiration occurs without oxygen, resulting in the formation of lactate or ethanol. It produces a smaller amount of ATP compared to aerobic respiration.

Energy Molecules: ATP and ADP

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the primary energy carrier in cells.
ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) is formed when ATP loses a phosphate group. ADP can be converted back to ATP through phosphorylation.

Genetic Material: DNA and RNA

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) stores genetic information and participates in the synthesis of proteins.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) regulates protein synthesis with different types, each having a specific function:
- mRNA (Messenger RNA) carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
- tRNA (Transfer RNA) brings amino acids to the ribosomes for translation.
- rRNA (Ribosomal RNA) forms the ribosome's core and catalyzes protein synthesis.

Complementary Base Pairing

DNA: Adenine pairs with Thymine (A-T), and Cytosine pairs with Guanine (C-G).
RNA: Adenine pairs with Uracil (A-U), and Cytosine pairs with Guanine (C-G).

Description

Test your knowledge on the key concepts of metabolism, including anabolism, catabolism, and metabolic pathways. Explore the structures and functions of nucleotides and the significance of codons in genetic coding. This quiz will challenge your understanding of these essential biochemistry topics.