Unit 5 Metabolism

Pre-discussion Assignment
Part 1: Energy

Textbook Readings:
 Chapter 8: Metabolism
 Chapter 9: Cell Respiration (Except for 9.6)
 Chapter 10: Photosynthesis (Except for 10.4)

Presentations by David Knuffke

 Energy
o http://prezi.com/u5kt8ftfvc3k/ap-bio-metabolism-1-cellular-energetics/

Videos:
 Paul Anderson Videos:
o Bioenergetics
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDCxIpiI7-Y
o Life Requires Free Energy
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBmykor-
2kU&list=PLFCE4D99C4124A27A&index=15&feature=plpp_vid
eo
o Gibbs Free Energy
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=DPjMPeU5OeM&list=PLFCE4D99C4124A27A&index=14&fe
ature=plpp_video
Questions to Answer
1. State the first law of thermodynamics and explain how living systems comply
with this law. Provide one real-life example to support your explanation.
2. State the second law of thermodynamics and explain how living systems comply
with this law. Provide one real-life example to support your explanation.
3. How is the maintenance of a highly ordered living system possible, given the
tendency of the Universe to tend toward increasing disorder? Provide an
explanation for the order of an organism, AND an explanation for the order of
successive generations of organisms.
4. Is a living system ever in equilibrium with it’s surroundings? Explain why or
why not, and when equilibrium occurs (if ever).
5. Explain the energetic advantage of coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic
reactions. Which reaction must be greater in terms of energetic magnitude?
6. Organisms are endergonic systems. What are the exergonic reactions that provide
living systems with energy (give two examples).
7. How do enzymes catalyze chemical reactions (don’t just say “they lower the
activation energy”, give me specific mechanisms).
8. Explain the significance of reaction coupling in living systems. How is it used,
and what does it allow living systems to do that they would not be able to do
otherwise?
 9. Why does the activation energy of many reactions in living systems need to be
reduced for living systems to function?
10. Compare the “lock-and-key” model of enzyme function with the “induced fit”
model of enzyme function.
11. Explain how each of the following affect enzyme structure and function:
a. Substrate concentration
b. temperature
c. pH
d. salt concentration
e. cofactors and coenzymes
12. Explain the difference between a competitive inhibitor and a non-competitive
inhibitor.
13. How is feedback regulation of enzyme reaction related to allosteric regulation of
enzyme function?

Part 2: Respiration

Textbook Readings:
 Chapter 9: Cell Respiration (Except for 9.6)

Prezi’s by David Knuffke

o Respiration
o http://prezi.com/m9s0caebmwdu/ap-bio-metabolism-2-
chemoheterotrophic-nutrition/

Videos:
 Paul Anderson Videos
o Cell Respiration
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh2P5CmCC0M
o Photosynthesis and Respiration
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0IJMRsTcwcg&list=PLFCE4D99C4124A27A&index=16&
feature=plpp_video
 Crash Course Videos
o ATP and Respiration Biology #7
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=00jbG_cfGuQ&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF&index=7&f
eature=plpp_video

Questions to Answer:
1. What is the relationship between photosynthesis and aerobic cellular respiration?
2. In cellular respiration, what is oxidized and what is reduced?
3. What is the role of electron carrier molecules in energy processing systems? Why are
they necessary?
 4. State the most likely hypothetical order of evolution of anaerobic respiration, aerobic
respiration and photosynthesis. Provide two pieces of evidence to support the
hypothesis.
5. What are the most likely prokaryotic ancestors of modern day mitochondria and
chloroplasts? How was this determined? Is glucose the only molecule that can be
catabolized during cellular respiration? Why do we use glucose as the model?
6. Why do hydrogen atoms accompany electrons as they are transferred in biological
systems?
7. Why is it thought that glycolysis is the first catabolic pathway to have evolved in the
metabolism of all cellular systems?
8. Can a cell produce enough ATP to persist by using glycolysis alone? Why or why
not?
9. Why do anaerobic cellular systems use fermentation? What would happen if they
didn’t?
10. Why do mammalian muscle cells perform lactic acid fermentation (instead of, say,
ethanol fermentation)?
11. Why are pyruvate converted into acetyl-coA prior to entering the Kreb’s cycle?
What does this conversion do to the pyruvate molecules?
12. Oxygen is not used in the Kreb’s cycle, so why must the Kreb’s cycle occur in
aerobic cellular respiration?
13. Where in the mitochondria does oxidative phosphorylation occur? Why does it occur
there?
14. How is the structure of the inner mitochondrial membrane related to its function in
oxidative phosphorylation?
15. What products of the prior phases of cellular respiration are used in the electron
transport chain? How are they used?
16. Explain how the movement of electrons through the electron transport chain is used.
17. Why aren’t protons able to diffuse through the inner mitochondrial membrane?
18. Why is oxygen needed for oxidative phosphorylation?

Part 3: Photosynthesis

Textbook Readings:

 Chapter 10: Photosynthesis (Except for 10.4)

Prezi’s by David Knuffke

o Photosynthesis
o http://prezi.com/odmifdasxk6e/ap-bio-metabolism-3-photoautotrophic-
nutrition/

Videos:

 Paul Anderson Videos:

o Photosynthesis
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g78utcLQrJ4
  Crash Course Biology Videos
o Photosynthesis: Biology #8
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sQK3Yr4Sc_k&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF&index=8&feat
ure=plpp_video

Questions to Answer:
1. Explain the relationship between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle in
photoautotrophs.
2. Compare the electron transport chain of the mitochondrion with the electron transport
chain of the chloroplast. Provide at least three differences.
3. Why are plants green in color?
4. Compare and contrast cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation. Include the
products of each and the fates of those products.
5. Why is water necessary for photosynthesis?
6. Why is oxygen produced during the light reactions? What happens during the Calvin
cycle? How does the Calvin cycle depend on the Light reactions?
7. Explain the function of Ribulose BisPhosphate Carboxylase (aka Rubisco) in the
Calvin Cycle.
8. What is G3P?
9. Looking at the net equation for photosynthesis of one molecule of glucose, what
molecules are oxidized, and what molecules are reduced?
10. Why do plants need to control the loss of water? How is this done?