LECTURE 3

CELLULAR METABOLISM
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 Energy
• Free energy: energy in a system available for
doing work
– Exergonic: spontaneous, releases energy
– Endergonic: requires energy
 Enzymes
• Exergonic reactions
– May need additional activation energy
– Catalysts = enzymes
• Lower the activation energy barrier
• Affects reaction rate only.
• May require presence of co-factors (non-protein
substances)
– Inorganic or metallic (ex. Minerals)
– Organic (ex. Vitamins) = also called co-enzymes
Activation energy
Lock and Key Model
 Special topics
• Feedback mechanism (positive/negative)
• Agonist and antagonists
• Saturation effect
 Coupled Reactions
• An endergonic reaction may be driven by
combining it with an exergonic reaction.
• ATP contains high energy bonds which may be
used for cellular functions.
 ATP
• Not a fuel.
• Energy is stored as complex molecules
– Glucose
– Proteins
– Fats
 Cellular metabolism
• Animal cells obtain their energy through
oxidation-reduction reactions
• Electron donor = Reducing agent
• Electron acceptor = Oxidizing agent
• Site of metabolism
– Glycolysis = cytoplasm
– Kreb’s cycle = mitochondrial matrix
– Electron transport chain = inner mitochondrial
membrane
 Metabolism of non-carbohydrates
• Proteins and lipids may be converted into
pyruvic acid or simple sugars to be used in
glycolysis called gluconeogenesis
• Occurs during malnutrition or inadequate
intake of carbohydrates.
• Exercise.
• Losing and gaining weight.