Lecture 3

Cell Metabolism

Dr. S. Annie Jeyachristy

Lecturer, Unit of Biochemistry
Faculty of Medicine
 Cellular Metabolism
The sum total of the chemical activities of all cells is called
Cellular Metabolism.
Anabolic Pathways (Endergonic reactions)
1. Those that consume energy to build complicated
molecules from simpler compounds such as: Protein,
Glycogen & lipid synthesis.
2. Require energy to be added
3. Endothermic
Catabolic Pathways (Exergonic reactions):
1. Those that release energy by breaking down complex
molecules into simpler compounds such as glycolysis.
2. Release energy
3. Exothermic
Coupled reactions
1. Liberation of energy in an exergonic reaction drives an
endergonic reaction
Construction of macromolecules from simple molecules
Energy in carbohydrates, lipids, proteins is used to produce ATP through
oxidation-reduction reactions
The enzymatic reactions of metabolism form a network of interconnected
chemical reactions, or pathways.
The molecules of the pathway are called intermediates because the products of
one reaction become the substrates of the next.
Lipids long chain fatty acids (oleic acid and palmitic acid)
Nucleic acids 5 nitrogenous bases (adenine, uracil, thymine, cytosine,
guanine)
Proteins 20 amino acids
Carbohydrates glucose and its derivatives
Amino acids and Carbohydrates d- and l- isomers & - and - anomers
Glucose exists in form and amino acids are in -form
 Purpose of metabolism
Basic strategy to form ATP, reducing power and building blocks for
biosynthesis
To form ATP
ATP is the currency of cell energy muscle contraction and active transport
ATP is generated from glucose, fatty acids and amino acids
To form NADPH
Formed in HMP pathway
Used for biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol
To provide building blocks for biosynthesis
Glycerol to produce triacylglycerol
Phosphoenol pyruvate to synthesize amino acids
Succinyl CoA for the synthesis of porphyrins
Ribose 5-phosphate for nucleotide formation
 Chemical transformation

Pattern of reactions
Oxidation reduction (G6P to 6-Phosphogluconate)
Group transfer ( G6P to F6P)
Rearrangement (G6P to F6P)
Cleavage (F1,6P to DHAP and Gly 3-P)
Condensation (amino acids to dipeptide)
 PRIMARY METABOLISM
breakdown of food;
nutrients are transported to
tissues

SECONDARY METABOLISM
Built into lipids, proteins,
and glycogen or
Broken down by catabolic
pathways to pyruvic acid
and acetyl CoA.

TERTIARY METABOLISM

nutrients are catabolized to

carbon dioxide, water, and
ATP

OVERVIEW OF
METABOLISM
 Metabolic Reactions

Synthetic Degradative
glycogenesis glycogenolysis
gluconeogenesis glycolysis
lipogenesis lipolysis
synthesis of FA -oxidation
ketogenesis ketone bodies degradation
Proteosynthesis proteolysis
urea synthesis degradation of amino acids

CITRATE CYCLE, RESPIRATORY CHAIN

 Control of Metabolic Reactions
Enzymes
control rates of metabolic reactions
series of enzyme-controlled reactions leading to formation of a
product
each new substrate is the product of the previous reaction
globular proteins with specific shapes
not consumed in chemical reactions
substrate specific
Factors that alter enzyme activity
temperature and heat
Radiation
Electricity
Chemicals
changes in pH

Cofactors
Make some enzymes active
Ions (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mg, Co, Se) or coenzymes

Coenzymes
Organic molecules that act as cofactors
vitamins
 Regulation of Metabolic Reactions
Enzyme levels - limited number of regulatory enzymes
Allosteric interactions
Covalent modifications
Negative feedback - Inhibitors
hormones
Compartmentalization
Specialization of organs
 Compartmentalization of different pathways
Metabolic patterns are affected by the presence of compartments
Compartmentalization allows the separation of processes that occur in the
opposite directions. So they do not interfere with each other.
Most of the anabolic processes occur in the cytosol and catabolic process occur
in mitochondria
Interplay between
Cytosol Mitochondrial matrix cytosol and
mitochondria

Glycolysis TCA cycle Gluconeogenesis

Oxidative
HMP shunt Urea synthesis
phosphorylation

-oxidation
Fatty acid synthesis Ketone body Heme synthesis
formation
 Nucleic acids
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Genetic information instructs cells how to construct proteins;
stored in DNA
Gene segment of DNA that codes for one protein
Genome complete set of genes
Genetic Code method used to translate a sequence of nucleotides
of DNA into a sequence of amino acids
Genotype - genetic makeup of an individual
Phenotype - physical manifestation of a trait (the genotype +
influence of the environment)
Mutations change in genetic information
May or may not change the protein
Repair enzymes correct mutations
 From DNA to protein

DNA replicates DNA

Regions of DNA form basis of genes
When the information stored in a gene is expressed this
becomes a protein.
DNA transcribes itself into a RNA (mRNA) (leaves the
nucleus)
RNA interacts with other RNAs (tRNA & rRNA) and
translates itself into a sequence of amino acids (a polypeptide
chain or protein).
 Metabolic Poisons
Toxins that Disrupt Cellular Respiration ultimately preventing
production of ATP
Rotenone and cyanide- electron transport inhibitors
2,4 Dinitrophenol - Uncoupler
Toxins that Disrupt Protein Synthesis
Alpha amanitin produced by certain mushrooms (e.g.
Amanita virosa, A. phalloides, Galerina autumnalis)
interferes with RNA polymerase (transcription).
Ricin from castor beans inhibits protein synthesis by
specifically and irreversibly inactivating eukaryotic
ribosomes. - In 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian writer
and journalist who was living in London, died after he was
attacked by a man with an umbrella. The umbrella had been
rigged to inject a poison ricin pellet under Markovs skin.