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2. Introduction to Metabolism

The document discusses the essential role of energy in life functions, highlighting that all living organisms require a continuous energy supply derived from exergonic reactions for processes like growth, movement, and nerve impulses. It defines metabolism as the sum of all chemical transformations in a cell, encompassing both anabolism and catabolism, and emphasizes the importance of ATP as the universal energy carrier. Additionally, it covers the roles of various electron carriers and coenzymes, such as NADH, NADPH, and Coenzyme A, in energy metabolism and biochemical reactions.

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2 views

2. Introduction to Metabolism

The document discusses the essential role of energy in life functions, highlighting that all living organisms require a continuous energy supply derived from exergonic reactions for processes like growth, movement, and nerve impulses. It defines metabolism as the sum of all chemical transformations in a cell, encompassing both anabolism and catabolism, and emphasizes the importance of ATP as the universal energy carrier. Additionally, it covers the roles of various electron carriers and coenzymes, such as NADH, NADPH, and Coenzyme A, in energy metabolism and biochemical reactions.

Uploaded by

mochamacynthia2
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Every Life Function requires Energy

➢ Basis for all life functions is a continuous energy supply


▪ all living organisms are dependent on suitable energy sources
to maintain their life functions
Biosyntheses

Motion
ENERGY ORGANISM
Nerve Impulses

Growth

▪ Energy is derived from exergonic (energy-producing)


reactions
▪ In metabolism energy is transformed in a biologically
usable (=suitable) form
Definition of Metabolism

➢ Metabolism........
.......is the sum of all chemical transformations
taking place in a cell or organism

➢ This includes :
➔ Anabolism
➔ Catabolism
Two Directions of Metabolic Processes

Degradation of nutrients =
supply of energy

modified from
Biosynthesis of cell macromolecules = Lehninger 3rd ed.
consumption of energy
Principles of Energy
Metabolism
Classification of Organisms According to
their Energy Sources

from Lehninger 3rd ed. Dr. Maike Silberbach


Biological Energy

➢ Solar Energy is the Primary Source


of Biological Energy
▪ Phototrophic organisms
» obtain energy from sunlight
» synthesize energy-rich organic bio- mass
and O2 from CO2 and H2O
▪ Organotrophic organisms
» catabolize the produced biomass to meet Phototrophic
their own energy demands Organisms
» The waste products CO2 and H2O are
recycled by phototrophic organisms Organic
CO2, H2O biomass,
O2

Organotrophic
Organisms
Energy Conversion in the Cell

➢ Energy Sources
▪ All organisms use either light energy
or energy-rich molecules for energy
conversion
▪ Conservation of energy in form of
ATP during the catabolic reactions

➢ ATP is the universal currency of


energy in all organisms
▪ Accumulation of energy
▪ ATP hydrolysis delivers 35.2 kJ/mol

➢ ATP couples exergonic with ender-


gonic reactions of metabolism
▪ Principle of energetic coupling from Lehninger
3rd ed.
Four Stages of Energy Conversion in Catabolism

fats carbohydrates proteins


stage 1 Hydrolysis of nutrients
fatty acids, glucose and into their basic units
amino acids
glycerol other sugars
stage 2 Degradation to the common
intermediate Acetyl-CoA

Citric
acid
cycle stage 3 Oxidation of Acetyl-CoA to
CO2

stage 4 Transfer of electrons to O2,


ATP production
modified from Müller-Esterl 1st ed.
Central Energy Carriers:

ATP, NAD(P)H,
Electrochemical Potentials
ATP and Other Phosphorylated Compounds
from Voet 2nd ed.
➢ ATP
▪ universal carrier of free energy
in all known organisms
▪ an energy-rich molecule,
because its triphosphate unit
contains two phospho-
anhydride bonds
▪ Hydrolysation liberates a large
amount of free energy:

ATP + H2O ADP + Pi + H+ G`0 = - 30.5


kJ/mol

ATP + H2O AMP + PPi + H+ G`0 = - 32.2


kJ/mol
ATP and Other Phosphorylated Compounds

➢ Chemical basis for the large free-energy change associated with


ATP hydrolysis: from Lehninger 3rd ed.
ATP and Other Phosphorylated Compounds

➢ Chemical basis for the large free-energy change associated with


ATP hydrolysis:

phosphenolpyruvate
of phosphorylated compounds
Free energy of hydrolysation

G´0 of hydrolysis [kJ/mol]


carbamoylphosphate
creatine phosphate

ATP

glucose-1-phosphate
glucose-6-phosphate
glycerol-6-phosphate
Thermodynamics of ATP-driven Reactions

➢ A thermodynamically unfavorable reaction can be driven by


a favorable one:
+
Glutamate + NH4 Glutamine + H2O G0 = + 18.3 kJ/mole
ATP + H2O ADP + Pi G0 = - 30.5 kJ/mole
Glutamate + NH
4
+ + ATP Glutamine + ADP + P
i
G0 = - 12.2 kJ/mole
Thermodynamics of ATP-driven Reactions
➢ A thermodynamically unfavorable
reaction can be driven by a
favorable one:
▪ ATP drives biochemical reactions
by phosphoryl group transfer,
not by simple hydrolysis to heat
▪ Strategy of ATP-driven
reactions:
» Phosphorylation of substrate
molecule (1)

from Lehninger 3rd


» Phosphate residue is displaced by
another group (2)
▪ ATP participates covalently in

ed.
the enzyme-catalyzed
reactions
ATP is Continously Formed and Consumed

▪ ATP: principal direct donor


of free energy in biological
systems
▪ Turnover of ATP in a resting
human: 70 kg of ATP within
24 h
▪ Consumption of ATP by

from Stryer 5th ed.


motion, active transport,
biosyntheses, signal
amplification
▪ Regeneration of ATP by
oxidation of nutrients or
photosynthesis
Important Electron Carriers: NADH and NADPH

from Lehninger 3rd ed.

• NAD+: electron acceptor in catabolic


oxidation reactions

• NADPH: electron donor in anabolic


reduction reactions
 Both coenzymes act together with
NAD+ = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide"
NADPH = nicotinamide adenine
dehydrogenases
dinucleotide phosphate"
Important Electron Carriers: Flavin Nucleotides

➢ Flavin nucleotides:
▪ Coenzymes in oxidation/reduction reactions
▪ Derived from the vitamin riboflavin
Important Electron Carriers: Flavin Nucleotides

➢ Flavin nucleotides:
▪ The fully reduced forms are abbreviated FADH2 and FMNH2
Important Electron Carriers: Flavin Nucleotides

➢ Flavin nucleotides:
▪ Act together with flavoproteins

from Lehninger 3rd ed.


Other Coenzymes
➢ Energy and electron carriers
➢ Another important function of coenzymes:
▪ Transfer of chemical groups
▪ most important coenzyme: Coenzyme A

from Lehninger
3rd ed.
Coenzyme A, a Universal Carrier of Acyl Groups

➢ Coenzyme A (CoA):
▪ Transfer of acyl groups, in particular acetyl groups
» Acyl groups bind in a covalent, but reversible way to the terminal thiol group of CoA
» Generation of Acyl-CoA via a reactive thio ester bond
» This thio ester hydrolyses in a strongly exergonic reaction

Acetyl-CoA + H2O CH3COO- + CoA G`0 = - 30.5 kJ/mol

▪ Reactive site of coenzyme A: terminal thiol group

▪ Acetyl-CoA: high acetyl group transfer potential

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