BioC 3021 Section 001

Third Exam Study Guide

Glycolysis: Be able to name and draw all atoms of all structures, know the names of all enzymes and
cofactors, and which steps involve energy and carbon gain or loss. Know the importance of
phosphorylating glucose and how key enzymes are regulated. Know how NAD+ is regenerated under
anaerobic conditions in both yeast and humans, and be able to draw fructose and galactose entry into
glycolysis. You dont need to draw our uridine diphosphate, you can abbreviate it as UDP.
TCA cycle: Be able to name and draw all atoms of all structures, know the names of all enzymes and
cofactors, and which steps involve energy and carbon gain or loss. Know how pyruvate dehydrogenase
works (bottom right slide on page 164). Understand the three conceptual phases and the chemical logic
of the cycle.
Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation: Know the functions of the complexes, electron
carriers, how compounds enter, how molecules move, understand the reaction. You dont need to know
specific proteins within the complexes. Be able to draw e- transport and oxidative phosphorylation at
the blob level, as in the slide on page 181. Understand standard reduction potential, the significance of
the proton gradient, and the working of ATP synthase.
Gluconeogenesis and Glycogen synthesis: Be able to name and draw all atoms of all structures, know
the names of all enzymes and cofactors, and which steps involve energy. Know the steps that differ
between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and understand why some enzymes are used for both pathways
and some are not. Understand energy charge and reciprocal regulation. Know how glycolysis,
gluconeogenesis, glycogen synthesis and glycogen breakdown are regulated by the metabolic state of the
cell and by hormones. Understand insulin, glucagon, and diabetes. Understand how one non-insulin
diabetes drug works (dont need to know names or structures.)
Lipid metabolism: Know the steps lipid mobilization and in -oxidation (be able to draw one round
starting with a generic fatty acid as shown in the top left slide on 197), understand similarity to Krebs
cycle reactions. Understand the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase in cholesterol biosynthesis.
Understand prostaglandins and common analgesics.
Amino acid metabolism: Know the fate of the nitrogen groups, know how the carbon backbones enter
metabolism of any amino acids that were discussed individually (dont need to know all 20). Be able to
draw all reactions on slides of page 204-5. Understand how excess nitrogen is converted to urea.
Case Studies, Metabolic Diseases, etc.: You should also know these, be able to describe a disease
causes by loss of a metabolic enzyme, as well as any case study we discussed.