Biological Chemistry: Cellular Respiration and Metabolic Pathways

Study Notes

Series of chemical reactions that occur within a cell to convert energy and nutrients
Two main types:
- Catabolic pathways: break down molecules to release energy
- Anabolic pathways: build molecules to store energy
Examples: glycolysis, citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway

Process by which cells generate energy from glucose
Three stages:
1. Glycolysis: glucose broken down into pyruvate in the cytoplasm
2. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle): pyruvate converted into ATP, NADH, and FADH2 in the mitochondria
3. Oxidative Phosphorylation: energy from NADH and FADH2 used to generate ATP in the mitochondria
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell

Study of the structure and function of biological molecules
Key molecules:
- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): contains genetic information
- RNA (ribonucleic acid): involved in protein synthesis and gene regulation
- Proteins: perform a wide range of functions in the cell
Central Dogma: DNA → RNA → Protein

Large, complex biomolecules composed of amino acids
Functions:
- Enzymes: catalyze chemical reactions
- Structural: provide structure and support for cells and tissues
- Transport: transport molecules and ions across cell membranes
- Regulatory: involved in cell signaling and gene regulation
Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure of proteins

Study of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms
Key areas of focus:
- Metabolism: study of chemical reactions that occur within cells
- Enzymology: study of enzymes and their role in catalyzing chemical reactions
- Nutrition: study of the chemical components of food and their role in maintaining health
Biochemical reactions: oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, condensation, etc.

Metabolic pathways are series of chemical reactions that occur within a cell to convert energy and nutrients
There are two main types of metabolic pathways: catabolic and anabolic
Catabolic pathways break down molecules to release energy
Anabolic pathways build molecules to store energy
Examples of metabolic pathways include glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and pentose phosphate pathway

Cellular respiration is the process by which cells generate energy from glucose
The process of cellular respiration has three stages: glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation
Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate in the cytoplasm
The citric acid cycle (Krebs Cycle) is the second stage, where pyruvate is converted into ATP, NADH, and FADH2 in the mitochondria
Oxidative phosphorylation is the third stage, where energy from NADH and FADH2 is used to generate ATP in the mitochondria
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell

Molecular biology is the study of the structure and function of biological molecules
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) contains genetic information
RNA (ribonucleic acid) is involved in protein synthesis and gene regulation
Proteins perform a wide range of functions in the cell
The Central Dogma is the process by which genetic information is passed from DNA to RNA to proteins

Proteins are large, complex biomolecules composed of amino acids
Proteins can function as enzymes, catalyzing chemical reactions
Proteins can also have structural roles, providing structure and support for cells and tissues
Proteins can transport molecules and ions across cell membranes
Proteins can also be involved in cell signaling and gene regulation
The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of its amino acids
The secondary structure of a protein is the arrangement of its amino acids in space
The tertiary structure of a protein is the 3D shape of the entire protein
The quaternary structure of a protein is the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms
Metabolism is the study of the chemical reactions that occur within cells
Enzymology is the study of enzymes and their role in catalyzing chemical reactions
Nutrition is the study of the chemical components of food and their role in maintaining health
Biochemical reactions include oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, condensation, and others