Metabolism/Energy Glycolysis Overview

Cell Structure Energy Overview Energy Storage - ATP NAD+

Citric Acid Cycle

FAD, CoQ, CoA Electron Transport

Elmhurst College Chemistry Department Virtual ChemBook

Overview of Metabolis
Introduction:

Metabolism is the sum total of all chemical reactions involved in maintaining the living state of the cells, and thus the organism. In general metabolism may be divide into two categories: catabolism or break down of molecules to obtain energy; and anabolism or the synthesis of all compounds needed the cells (examples are DNA, RNA an protein synthesis). The diagram the left contains a summary of all t types of metabolism that will be examined. In this module, the elec transport chain is examined.

Bioenergetics is a term which describes the biochemical or metabolic pathways by which the c ultimately obtains energy.

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Nutrition is a science that deals wi the relation of food substance to living things. In the study of nutrit the following items must be considered: a) bodily requirement various substances; b) function in body; c) amount needed; d) level below which poor health results. Essential foods supply energy (calories) and supply the necessary chemicals which the body itself cannot synthesize. Food provides a variety of substances that are essen for the building, upkeep, and repai body tissues, and for the efficient

functioning of the body.

A complete diet must supply the elements; carbon, hydrogen, oxyge nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and a least 18 other inorganic elements. major elements are supplied in carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. addition, at least 17 vitamins and water are necessary. If an essential nutrient is omitted from the diet, certain deficiency symptoms appea

Minerals: The minerals in foods do not contribute directly to energy needs but are important as body regulators and as essential constituents in many vital substances within the body. A MINERAL is rather loosely defined as any element not normally a part of the structures of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. More than 50 elements are found in the human body.

Carbohydrates:

Foods supply carbohydrates in thre forms: starch, sugar, and cellulose (fiber). Starch and sugar are major essential sources of energy for humans. A lack of carbohydrates in the diet would probably result in an insufficient number of calories in t About 25 elements have been found to be essential, since a deficiency diet. Cellulose furnishes bulk in th produces specific deficiency symptoms. All of the minerals required by the diet. human body are probably not known at this time. Although minerals may not be part of the structures of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, they are Since the tissues of the body need mixed in the foods in trace amounts during the growing process by uptake glucose at all times, the diet must from the soil. contain substances such as carbohydrates or substances which Major Minerals Include: calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, will yield glucose by digestion or and chloride ions. metabolism. For the majority of th people in the world, more than half Other Essential Minerals Include: copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, the diet consists of carbohydrates f

magnesium, fluorine, and iodine. Vitamins: Vitamins are essential organic compounds that the human body cannot synthesize by itself and must therefore, be present in the diet. The term vitamin (vital amines) was coined by Casmir Funk from the Latin vita meaning "life" (essential for life) and amine because he thought that all of these compounds contained an amine functional group. Vitamins particularly important in metabolism include: Vitamin A: The yellow and green pigments found in vegetables are called carotenes which are pro vitamins and are converted into Vitamin A. The role of vitamin A inVision has already been discussed in a previous page.

rice, wheat, bread, potatoes, macar Proteins:

All life requires protein since it is t chief tissue builder and part of eve cell in the body. Among other functions, proteins help to: make hemoglobin in the blood that carrie oxygen to the cells; form anti-bodi that fight infection; supply nitrogen DNA and RNA genetic material; a supply energy.

Proteins are necessary for nutrition because they contain amino acids. Vitamin B2 is better known as riboflavin and is widely distributed in many Among the 20 or more amino acid the human body is unable to foods. Riboflavin is used to form a coenzyme FAD important in the synthesize 8, therefore, these amin utilization of oxygen in the cells. acids are called essential amino aci Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is also in the B complex of vitamins. A food containing protein may be Nicotinic acid was first obtained from the alkaloid nicotine in tobacco and poor biological value if it is deficie in one or more of the 8 essential am was later found in many plant and animal tissues as niacin. acids: lysine, tryptophan, methioni Nicotinamide is a part of the important coenzyme,Nicotinamide Adenine leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, Dinucleotide (NAD). ThisNAD+ coenzyme is important during biological valine, and threonine. Proteins of animal origin have the highest oxidations and is discussed in detail in a later page. biological value because they conta a greater amount of the essential Pantothenic Acid is art of the structure of coenzyme A. amino acids. Foods with the best quality protein are listed in diminishing quality order: whole e milk, soybeans, meats, vegetables, grains. Fats and Lipids:

Fats are concentrated sources of energy because they give twice as much energy as either carbohydrat or protein on a weight basis. The functions of fats are to: make up pa of the structure of cells, form a protective cushion and heat insulat around vital organs, carry fat solub vitamins, and provide a reserve

storage for energy.

Three unsaturated fatty acids which are essential include: linoleic, linolinic, and arachidonic and have 3, and 4 double bonds respectively Saturated fats, along with cholester have been implicated in arteriosclerosis, "hardening of the arteries". For this reason, the diet should be decreased in saturated fa (animal) and increased in unsatura fat (vegetable).

a) MH + NAD+ ---> NADH + H+ + + energy

b) ADP + P + energy ---> ATP + H Overview of Metabolism:

As already mentioned, metabolism refers to the chemical reactions car out inside of the cell. The major metabolic reactions which we will study are those involving catabolis which is the breakdown of larger molecules to extract energy. We w focus our discussion on the individ steps in the metabolic reactions wh energy is produced. Some attention will also be given to the synthesis o other biomolecules. The overall reaction for the combustion of glucose is written:

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C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -----> 6 CO2 + 6 H + energy

Although the above equation represents the overall metabolic reaction for carbohydrates, there ar actually over thirty individual reactions. Each reaction is controll

by a different enzyme. The failure an enzyme to function may have serious and possibly fatal consequences. Slightly less than ha of the 686 kcal/mole of the energy produced by combustion is availab for storage and use by the cell with remaining amount dissipated as he

Metabolism will be studied in vario parts. Interrelationships will be pointed out as they are encountered Just as there are three basic biomolecules - carbohydrates, lipid and proteins, the metabolism of ea of these will be studied individuall The interrelationships of the major components in metabolism are diagramed in Figure 1. At the end the study of metabolism, you may asked to diagram portions of it from memory.