BCHM220 End of Semester Exam Questions

Module 1
1. Formation of ammonium in mammalian liver and its excretion. Draw
each pathway in the relevant cell compartment. Name all metabolic
pathways involved and indicate the sources of metabolites.
2. Other forms of ammonium excretion in other organisms
3. Draw a table listing each component common to biological
membranes in one column; the properties of each component in a
second column; and the role/s of each component in a third column.
Accompany your table with a drawing of a diagram showing the general
structure of a biological membrane with all of its components.
4. Fatty acid oxidation yields large amount of acetyl CoA in mitochondria of
liver cells. Answer the following regarding mammals:
a. Where and in which form (show in a drawing) do mammals store
fatty acids as energy reserves?
b. Under which conditions would you expect fatty acid oxidation to
occur extensively? Briefly explain.
c. How many acetyl CoA units would be produced from a palmitic acid?
d. What would be the main fate/s of the acetyl CoA produced from FA
oxidation? Briefly explain.
5. Draw a scheme of amino acid catabolism in the liver and shortly explain
your scheme. Include the possible sources of amino acids, the fate of the
amino group and the possible fates of the carbon skeletons.
6. How would the situation change shortly after feeding (absorptive state)?
Which other body tissues will be involved? Accompany your explanation
with an illustration of the absorptive state.
7. Define the terms ketogenic and glucogenic amino acid. Prepare a table
showing the different metabolic fates of the carbon skeleton of ketogenic
and glucogenic amino acids under different metabolic states.
8. The reduction of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids takes the bend
out of the molecules. Give an example of the application of the above in
industry. Explain your example in terms of transition temperature.
Accompany your explanation with a drawing.
Module 2
9. Write an essay to describe the role of glucagon in the regulation of blood
glucose levels. Include in your essay the conditions that trigger glucagon
production, what type of hormone glucagon is, its effects on cellular
metabolism in its target cells (in particular liver cells) and how the cellular
events influence blood glucose.
10.1) Draw a metabolic map of the long post-absorptive state (starvation) in
mammals. Show the flow of metabolites among tissues with arrows

indicating the direction of the flow. Clearly label tissues and active
pathways. (50%)
11.2) List the metabolic pathways that are active in the liver during starvation
and shortly explain why their activity is required at such time as
starvation. Include in your explanation the main sources of metabolites for
each pathway and the products they yield. (50%)
12.Draw and describe the ways Glucokinase in the liver is acting to buffer
against high blood glucose. Explain the mode of action of this enzyme and
the properties that make it suitable for regulating blood glucose. In what
ways the activity of Glucokinase is regulated?
13.Glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) is a central metabolite in carbohydrate
metabolism. What would be the fate of G-6-P:
a. When the energy charge of the cell is below optimal levels?
b. When the energy charge of the cell reached optimal levels?
Explain your answers and state what type of regulation is involved
in both cases.
14.Draw and compare the modes of action of fat-soluble hormones and watersoluble hormones.
15.AMP, ATP, ADP, citrate and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate are modulators of
the enzymes PFK1 (glycolysis) and FBPase1 (gluconeogenesis) as shown in
the figure below.
a. Explain the term reciprocal regulation and explain its purpose.
b. What is the preferred energy charge of the cell? Explain, using the
figure below, how reciprocal regulation increases the energy charge
of the cell if it falls under the optimal charge.
c. AMP and ADP are positive modulators of PFK1. ATP and citrate are
negative modulators of PFK1. Discuss why these statements make
sense metabolically.

16.PFK-1 catalyses a step in glycolysis that determines the rate of flow of

metabolites through this pathway.
a. What makes the step catalysed by PFK-1 a good regulatory point of
glycolysis?
b. Give at least two ways by which the catalytic capacity of this
enzyme can be increased and two ways by which it can be
decreased.
c. What is the effect of AMP levels on the activity of PFK-1? What is the
effect of ATP levels on the activity of PFK-1? Explain why it makes
sense for PFK Activity to respond to AMP and ATP levels.
d. What is the effect of citrate on PFK-1? Explain why does this make
sense.
e. Glucokinase is considered as one of the enzymes regulating blood
glucose levels. However, the step catalysed by glucokinase is not
considered to be a regulatory step specific for glycolysis. Explain
why.

Module 3
17.Draw a basic structure of plant cell walls and label all parts and
components. Briefly describe the structure and function of each
component and subcomponent, including the substance that makes the
tissue woody.

18.Outline the main features of the glyoxylate cycle and gluconeogenesis and
discuss how the two are connected.
19.Explain with diagrams photophosphorylation in relation to ATP synthesis
coupled to electron transport and proton movement.
20.Describe the C-4 pathway and bring out the differences between the C-3
and C-4 pathways.
21.Many seeds contain storage lipids that are used both as a source of energy
and a source of carbon during early growth of the seedling. Outline the
major metabolic stages explaining how some germinating seeds are able
to use TRIGLYCERIDES to make structural CARBOHYDRATES.
For each metabolic pathway/stage, write a net equation, indicate the
subcellular location of each step and explain the role of the pathway in the
overall process.
Explain why humans cannot carry out this process.
22.Draw a diagram of the thylakoid membrane showing the relationship
between the major components of the thylakoid reactions of
photosynthesis.
Use your diagram to explain the following:
a. The role of light absorption in photosynthesis
b. The production of oxygen
c. The production of ATP
d. The reduction of NADP+
23.Draw a diagram showing the substrate, product, intermediates and
cofactors of the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle (Calvin-Benson
cycle). Show the position of the reaction catalysed by Rubisco.
24.Explain the term photorespiration, how is Rubisco responsible for this
process, include an equation to illustrate your answer.
25.Explain using equations AND written description, the role of the following
enzymes in nitrogen assimilation in plants:
a. Nitrate reductase
b. Nitrite reductase
c. Glutamine synthetase
d. Glutamate synthase
26.Would you consider nitrogen assimilation in plants to be a part of
photosynthesis? Justify your answer in detail.
27.Explain the significance of glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase
for the synthesis of other amino acids and nucleotide bases.
28.The thylakoid reactions of photosynthesis are shown in the figure below.

a. What are the three major products of the THYLAKOID reactions of

photosynthesis? Explain the origin of each product.
b. Explain why light is required for the thylakoid reactions to proceed.
c. Explain how energy released during the redox reactions is stored
and used for ATP synthesis.
d. Which high energy cofactors are produced by the thylakoid
reactions and how are they used?
29.What is the main role of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase
(Rubisco)? Write an essay on Rubisco, including equations for the reactions
catalysed by the enzyme and explaining in detail their significance for
plant metabolism? Describe significant aspects of Rubisco structure. How
and why is Rubisco activity regulated?
30.Describe the basic structure of plant lipids.
a. Outline any differences between the lipid metabolism (synthesis
and catabolism) of plants and animals. Compare the intracellular
location of reactions of lipid metabolism in plants and animals.
b. What are the end uses of lipids in plants at different stages of
development?
31.Study the diagram of the Z-scheme below and answer the following
questions.

a) What are the TWO END PRODUCTS of the photosynthetic electron transport
chain or Z-scheme? Write two half equations showing their formation.
b) What are the major functions of Photosystem II?
c) Name any two prosthetic groups of Photosystem I and briefly describe their
function.
d) How is the proton gradient indicated on the diagram generated?
e) How is this proton gradient used?
f) Where in the photosynthetic cell do the reactions indicated take place? Be
precise in your answer.
g) What is the scale on the right hand side of the diagram?
h) Use this scale to explain the effect of light absorption onP680. Why is this
essential for electron transport?
32. a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction catalysed by fructose 1,6bisphosphatase.
b) Describe the importance of this enzyme in TWO situations in a PLANT cell.
c) Explain why fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase is an important site of metabolic
regulation.
d) Describe in detail, an example of regulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase
activity in plants. Relate the regulatory process described to its metabolic
context.