What is the dual role of activated carrier molecules?
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They serve as a source of both energy and chemical groups in biosynthetic reactions.
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What is the dual role of activated carrier molecules?
They serve as a source of both energy and chemical groups in biosynthetic reactions.
What is the principal energy currency in cells?
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).
What roles do NAD+ and NADPH play in cellular metabolism?
NAD+ acts as an oxidizing agent in catabolism, while NADPH acts as a reducing agent in anabolism.
What is the significance of the high-energy thioester bond in acetyl CoA?
The high-energy thioester bond in acetyl CoA releases a large amount of free energy when hydrolyzed, allowing the acetate molecule to be readily transferred to other molecules.
What is the relationship between ΔG° and the equilibrium constant (K)?
ΔG° = – RT ln K
What is the value of ΔG at equilibrium?
ΔG = 0 at equilibrium.
How do activated carrier molecules function in metabolism?
They link the breakdown of food molecules (catabolism) to the energy-requiring biosynthesis of small and large organic molecules (anabolism).
How is the equilibrium equation converted to base 10 logarithm?
ΔG° = –5.94 log K
What is the equilibrium constant (K) for the reaction Y → X?
K = [X]/[Y], where [X] is the concentration of the product and [Y] is the concentration of the reactant at equilibrium.
How do enzymes in cells function similarly to a paddle wheel in a mechanical system?
Enzymes couple an energetically favorable reaction, such as the oxidation of foodstuffs, to an energetically unfavorable reaction, such as the generation of an activated carrier molecule.
What is required for the biosynthetic reactions of macromolecules?
An energy input from nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis.
What are two examples of cellular processes powered by ATP?
Pumps that transport substances into and out of the cell, and molecular motors that enable muscle cells to contract and nerve cells to transport materials.
What is the ΔG for the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and phosphate under usual cellular conditions?
Between –46 and –54 kJ/mole.
How can ATP hydrolysis drive an unfavorable reaction with a ΔG of +40 kJ/mole?
Provided that a suitable reaction path is available.
What happens to the ratio of X to Y molecules at equilibrium?
At equilibrium, there is no net change in the ratio of Y to X, and the ΔG for both forward and backward reactions is zero.
What role does NADPH play in biosynthetic reactions?
NADPH participates in many important biosynthetic reactions that would otherwise be energetically unfavorable.
Why are phosphate transfer reactions energetically favorable?
Because they convert an energy-rich phosphoanhydride bond in ATP to a phosphoester bond, resulting in a large negative ΔG.
How is the energetically unfavorable formation of ATP from ADP and phosphate achieved?
It must be coupled to a highly energetically favorable reaction to occur.
What is the energy yield of ATP hydrolysis under intracellular conditions?
The hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate of ATP yields between 46 and 54 kJ/mole of usable energy.
What drives the synthesis of biological polymers?
The synthesis of biological polymers is driven by ATP hydrolysis.
What is required for coupling mechanisms in cells?
Enzymes.
How does the redox potential differ between NADPH and NADH?
NADPH is a much stronger electron donor (reducing agent) than NADH, while NAD+ is a much better electron acceptor (oxidizing agent) than NADP+.
How are the reactions that release the energy of ATP hydrolysis coupled to polymer synthesis?
Through enzyme-catalyzed pathways where the –OH group is first activated by forming a high-energy linkage to a second molecule.
How is ATP synthesized in cells?
ATP is synthesized by coupling a highly energetically favorable reaction to an energetically unfavorable phosphorylation reaction in which a phosphate group is added to ADP.
What does the mechanical model in Figure 2-32 illustrate?
The principle of coupled chemical reactions.
What does the equilibrium constant (K) depend on?
The intrinsic character of the molecules, as expressed in the value of ΔG° in kilojoules per mole.
What happens when the path of ATP hydrolysis is altered to produce AMP and pyrophosphate?
It makes available a total free-energy change of about –100 kJ/mole.
Why are phosphate groups not present in the final product molecules of proteins and polysaccharides?
Because the actual mechanisms linking ATP hydrolysis to their synthesis are more complex and do not leave phosphate groups in the final products.
What group does acetyl CoA transfer?
Acetyl CoA transfers two-carbon acetyl groups.
What is an example of a biosynthetic reaction that uses ATP hydrolysis to synthesize a molecule?
The synthesis of the amino acid glutamine.
What is the role of carboxylated biotin in metabolism?
Carboxylated biotin transfers carboxyl groups in biosynthetic reactions, such as the production of oxaloacetate.
What happens in the condensation step of the reaction driven by ATP hydrolysis?
The activated intermediate (A–O–PO3) reacts with B–H to form the product A–B, releasing inorganic phosphate.
Why do living cells need a continual input of energy?
To create and maintain order within themselves to survive and grow.
Why is NADPH an effective donor of its hydride ion?
Because the transfer of the hydride ion from NADPH is accompanied by a large negative free-energy change.
How do the roles of NADPH and NADH differ in cellular metabolism?
NADPH is primarily involved in anabolic reactions, while NADH plays a special role as an intermediate in the catabolic system of reactions that generate ATP through the oxidation of food molecules.
What is the role of activated carriers in cell metabolism?
Activated carriers store energy in an easily exchangeable form and serve as a source of both energy and chemical groups in biosynthetic reactions.
What are the most important activated carrier molecules?
ATP, NADH, and NADPH.
What type of reaction is involved in the synthesis of nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides?
Condensation reaction, where a water molecule is lost.
What are NAD+ and NADP+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) are important electron carriers in cells.
What is the role of ATP in cellular reactions?
ATP acts as a convenient and versatile store of energy used to drive a wide variety of chemical reactions in cells.
What happens to the forward and backward fluxes of reacting molecules at chemical equilibrium?
The forward and backward fluxes of reacting molecules are equal and opposite at chemical equilibrium.
What happens in the direct oxidation of glucose to CO2 and H2O?
It produces heat only.
What type of bond in ATP is converted to a phosphoester bond during phosphate transfer reactions?
A phosphoanhydride bond.
What is the relationship between the concentrations of reactants and products in a reaction A + B → C + D?
K = [C][D] / [A][B]
What are the two ways in which repetitive condensation reactions that produce macromolecules can be oriented?
Polymer-end activation and direct-monomer activation.
In polymer-end activation, what must be regenerated each time a monomer is added?
The reactive bond required for the condensation reaction.
Which type of polymerization is used in the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and some simple polysaccharides?
Direct-monomer activation.
Why can unfavorable reactions proceed in a sequential pathway?
Because the total ΔG° for the series of sequential reactions has a large negative value.
What is the function of pyruvate carboxylase?
Pyruvate carboxylase uses carboxylated biotin to transfer a carboxyl group to pyruvate, forming oxaloacetate.
What is the function of coenzyme A (CoA) in cells?
Coenzyme A carries a readily transferable acetyl group in a thioester linkage, known as acetyl CoA, which is used to add two carbon units in the biosynthesis of larger molecules.
What happens to ΔG as a favorable reaction proceeds and the concentration of products increases?
ΔG becomes less negative as the concentration of products increases and the concentration of substrates decreases.
Why do activated carrier molecules often contain a nucleotide derivative?
The nucleotide derivative, usually adenosine diphosphate, serves as a convenient 'handle' for the recognition of the carrier molecule by specific enzymes, and may be a relic from an early stage of evolution.
How does ATP supply energy for cellular processes?
By transferring its terminal phosphate to another molecule.
What is required to generate the final high-energy bond during the condensation step in protein synthesis?
One high-energy intermediate.
What is the role of NADPH in the biosynthesis of cholesterol?
NADPH acts as a reducing agent, transferring a hydride ion to reduce the C=C bond in the final stage of cholesterol biosynthesis.
How is energy from ATP hydrolysis used in biosynthetic reactions?
It converts A–OH to a higher-energy intermediate compound, which then reacts with B–H to form A–B.
What type of ions do NADH and NADPH carry?
They carry hydride ions (H-), which consist of a proton (H+) plus two electrons.
What happens during the hydrolysis of ATP?
ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate, releasing energy that can be used to drive energetically unfavorable reactions.
What is the role of ATP in cellular processes?
ATP transfers phosphate groups and provides energy for biosynthesis and other cellular processes.
How does a 5.94 kJ/mole difference in free energy at 37°C affect the equilibrium constant?
The equilibrium constant changes by a factor of 10.
How can the energy from an energetically favorable reaction be used more efficiently?
By coupling it to a second reaction, analogous to the synthesis of activated carrier molecules.
What drives the energetically unfavorable biosynthetic reaction shown in Figure 2-35?
ATP hydrolysis drives the reaction by producing a favorable free-energy change (ΔG° of –30.5 kJ/mole), which is larger in magnitude than the energy required for the synthesis of glutamine from glutamic acid plus NH3 (ΔG° of +14.2 kJ/mole).
How are activated carrier molecules generated?
Activated carrier molecules are generated in reactions coupled to ATP hydrolysis.
What is the role of ATP in the activation step of the condensation reaction?
ATP transfers a phosphate group to A–OH to produce a high-energy intermediate, A–O–PO3.
What role do activated carrier molecules play in biosynthesis?
They store energy as chemical-bond energy and carry it from sites of energy release to where it is needed for biosynthesis.
What is the significance of ATP in the synthesis of carboxylated biotin?
The synthesis of carboxylated biotin requires energy derived from ATP.
How does NADPH differ structurally from NADH?
NADPH has an extra phosphate group compared to NADH, which gives it a slightly different shape and allows it to bind to different sets of enzymes.
What must the free-energy change (ΔG) be for a reaction to proceed spontaneously?
The free-energy change (ΔG) must be less than zero for a reaction to proceed spontaneously.
What is an example of an energetically favorable reaction used to illustrate coupled reactions?
Rocks falling from a cliff.
What is the equilibrium equation at 37°C?
ΔG° = –2.58 ln K
What do NAD+ and NADP+ become when they pick up two electrons and a proton?
They become NADH and NADPH, respectively.
Why does the conversion of X to Y occur less often than the conversion of Y to X?
The conversion of X to Y requires a more energetic collision, making it occur less often than the conversion of Y to X.
What is the role of nucleoside triphosphates in macromolecule synthesis?
They provide the energy required to activate each subunit before its addition to the growing polymer chain.
Why are the outermost phosphate groups in ATP considered 'high-energy' bonds?
Because the hydrolysis of these phosphoanhydride linkages releases a great deal of free energy.
Which biosynthetic reaction is driven by the altered ATP hydrolysis pathway that produces AMP and pyrophosphate?
The synthesis of nucleic acids (polynucleotides) from nucleoside triphosphates.
What is the principle behind the enzyme-catalyzed pathways for macromolecule synthesis?
The –OH group involved in the condensation reaction is first activated by forming a high-energy linkage to a second molecule.
What is the net result of the condensation reaction driven by ATP hydrolysis?
The net result is the formation of the product A–B from substrates A–OH and B–H, accompanied by the release of inorganic phosphate.
Which type of polymerization is used in the synthesis of proteins?
Polymer-end activation.
What is NADPH and what role does it play in cellular reactions?
NADPH is an important carrier of electrons, produced in reactions where two hydrogen atoms are removed from a substrate. It holds its hydride ion in a high-energy linkage, making it an effective donor of its hydride ion to other molecules.
How are polymeric molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides assembled?
They are assembled from small activated precursor molecules by repetitive condensation reactions driven by ATP hydrolysis.
What happens during the hydrolysis of polymers?
Water is added, breaking down the polymers in an energetically favorable reaction.
What is the net result of the ATP-coupled condensation reaction?
A–OH + ATP + B–H → A–B + ADP + phosphate.
How is NADPH produced?
NADPH is produced when two hydrogen atoms are removed from a substrate molecule, with both electrons and one hydrogen atom added to NADP+ to form NADPH, while the second hydrogen atom is released as a proton (H+).
What do NADPH and FADH2 transfer in cellular reactions?
NADPH and FADH2 transfer electrons and hydrogen atoms.
What factors contribute to the large negative free-energy change during ATP hydrolysis?
The removal of unfavorable repulsion between adjacent negative charges and the stabilization of the inorganic phosphate ion by resonance and hydrogen-bond formation with water.
How is ΔG° calculated for a reaction A + B → C + D at 37°C?
ΔG° = –5.94 log ([C][D] / [A][B])
How are the free-energy changes of coupled reactions treated?
The overall free-energy change for a set of coupled reactions is the sum of the free-energy changes in each of its component steps.
What is the ΔG° for the coupled reaction X → Y and Y → Z if ΔG° values are +5 and –13 kJ/mole respectively?
The ΔG° for the coupled reaction will be –8 kJ/mole.
What is a condensation reaction in the context of macromolecule synthesis?
A condensation reaction links monomers together to form macromolecules, releasing water in the process.
What is the primary function of NADPH in the cell?
NADPH operates chiefly with enzymes that catalyze anabolic reactions, supplying the high-energy electrons needed to synthesize energy-rich biological molecules.
How are the ratios of NAD+ to NADH and NADP+ to NADPH maintained in the cell?
The ratio of NAD+ to NADH is kept high, whereas the ratio of NADP+ to NADPH is kept low, allowing the cell to adjust the supply of electrons for different purposes.
What drives the formation of organic molecules in photosynthetic organisms?
The electromagnetic radiation of the Sun drives the formation of organic molecules in photosynthetic organisms.
How do animals obtain their energy?
Animals obtain their energy by eating organic molecules and oxidizing them in a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that are coupled to the formation of ATP.
What is the role of ATP in the biosynthesis of macromolecules?
ATP is used to form reactive phosphorylated intermediates, making the energetically unfavorable reaction of biosynthesis energetically favorable.
What happens to the high-energy intermediate formed during polynucleotide synthesis?
The high-energy intermediate, a nucleoside triphosphate, reacts with the growing end of an RNA or DNA chain, leading to the release of pyrophosphate.
What is the role of the nicotinamide ring in NADP+ and NADPH?
The nicotinamide ring in NADP+ accepts the hydride ion (H-) to form NADPH.
Why is it important to have different pathways for the genesis of NADH and NADPH?
Different pathways allow for independent regulation, enabling the cell to adjust the supply of electrons for the contrasting purposes of anabolic and catabolic reactions.
What are the two active-intermediate orientations used for repetitive condensation reactions in polymer synthesis?
Polymer-end activation and direct-monomer activation.
What helps drive the overall reaction in the direction of polynucleotide synthesis?
The hydrolysis of pyrophosphate to inorganic phosphate is highly favorable and helps drive the overall reaction.
How is the synthesis of a polynucleotide, RNA or DNA, driven?
It is driven by ATP hydrolysis, where a nucleoside monophosphate is activated by the sequential transfer of terminal phosphate groups from two ATP molecules.