MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY II

(M3611BB)

Theme I - PRINCIPLES OF BIOENERGETICS

Dr D. Haiyambo
Dept. Human & Biological Sciences and Translational Medical Sciences.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

• Cellular activity in which multienzyme systems (metabolic pathways) cooperate to

• convert nutrient molecules into the cell’s own characteristic molecules.

• build macromolecules from single units (proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides).

• synthesize and degrade biomolecules required for specialized cellular functions, such
as membrane lipids.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

• Metabolism - chemical transformations taking place in a cell or organism.

• Metabolic pathways - a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

• Metabolites - metabolic intermediates.

• Catabolism - molecules (CHO’s, fats, and proteins) are converted into smaller,
simpler end products (such as lactic acid, CO2, NH3).

• Anabolism - also called biosynthesis, small, simple, precursors are built up into larger
and more complex molecules, including lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic
acids.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Fig 1 Nonlinear metabolic pathways. From Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 4th Ed., Nelson & Cox, W. H. Freeman and Company, 2004, Fig 4
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Reactions in living cells fall into one of five general

categories:
• oxidation-reductions
• make or break carbon–carbon bonds
• internal rearrangements, isomerizations, and eliminations
• group transfers
• free radical reactions.

Fig 2 Energy relationships between catabolic and anabolic pathways. From Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 4th Ed., Nelson & Cox, W. H. Freeman and
Company, 2004, Fig 3
 Principles of Bioenergetics

• Bioenergetics or biochemical thermodynamics - the study of energy changes

accompanying biochemical reactions or in biological system.

• Laws of thermodynamics
- The first law is the principle of the conservation of energy: for any physical or
chemical change, the total amount of energy in the universe remains constant.

-The second law is the law of entropy : which can be stated in several forms, says that
the universe always tends toward increasing disorder: in all natural processes, the
entropy of the universe increases.

-0th Law: two bodies in thermal equilibrium are at the same T.

-3rd Law: the entropy (S) of a pure crystalline compound at T = 0K is zero.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Free energy (Useful energy)

• Gibbs change in free energy (ΔG) is that portion of the total energy change in a
system available for doing work (chemical potential).
ΔG = ΔH – TΔS
Enthalpy (H) - heat content of the reacting system.
Entropy (S) - quantitative expression for disorder in a system.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

For a general reaction aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD

Keq =

Standard free energy change ΔG’⁰ = -RT Ln

Spontaneity

Keq ΔG’⁰ Direction of chemical

reaction
˃1.0 negative forward
1.0 zero equilibrium
˂1.0 positive reverse
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Types of reactions

ΔG = ΔH – TΔS
• Free-energy change (ΔG) - negative value (exergonic)
- positive value (endergonic)
- zero (equilibrium)

• Enthalpy change (ΔH) - negative value (exothermic)

- positive value (endothermic)
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Energy Currency of cells

• ATP (adenosine-triphosphate) is the main and universal carrier of chemical energy
The ATP–ADP cycle (ATP) provides the energy to perform work in the cell.

• To keep up with the demand, we must constantly replenish our ATP supply through
the use of O2 for fuel oxidation.

Fig 3 The ATP–ADP cycle.. From Marks’ basic medical biochemistry : a clinical approach 4 th Ed., Lieberman, Marks & Peet, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013, Fig 19.1
 Principles of Bioenergetics
• The bonds between the phosphate groups in ATP are called phosphoanhydride
bonds.

The ΔG° value of ATP) hydrolysis under standard conditions is -7.3 kcal/mol (-30.5 kJ/mol). (One kilocalorie equals 4.18 kilojoules (kJ)).

Fig 4 Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate.. From Marks’ basic medical biochemistry : a clinical approach 4 th Ed., Lieberman, Marks & Peet,
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013, Fig 19.2
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Other energy phosphates

• Phosphate compounds whose ΔG values higher than that of ATP e.g. phosphoenol
pyruvate and creatine phosphate
• Those with ΔG values lower than that of ATP are low energy Compounds e.g. ADP
and glucose 1-phosphate

• ATP + UDP ADP + UTP

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase catalyses this reaction where nucleoside diphosphates
can form corresponding triphosphates.
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Energy transformations are required to do work

• Mechanical Work

• Transport Work

• Biochemical work (Anabolic pathways and toxic compounds metabolism)

• Thermogenesis
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Energy balance
• To maintain energy balance, neither gaining nor losing weight, we must
consume an amount of food equal to our daily energy expenditure (DEE).

• DEE includes the Basal metabolic rate (BMR) or resting metabolic rate (RMR),
physical activity, plus the energy required to process the food we eat (diet-
induced thermogenesis [DIT])
 Principles of Bioenergetics

Energy balance
Principles of Bioenergetics
 Principles of Bioenergetics
Disease or Disorder

Obesity Affect cardiovascular system and can cause metabolic syndrome

Fuel Kcal/g
Carbohydrate 4
Fat 9
Protein 4
Alcohol 7
 Principles of Bioenergetics
Disease or Disorder

Anorexia nervosa Self induced reduction of food intake

Depression Risk factor for obesity and anorexia

Hyperthyroidism Excessive or deficient T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine)

Hypothyroidism hormones that regulate temperature, metabolism and heart
rate.

Kwashiorkor Mineral and protein deficiency

Leads to anaemia, edema, pot belly, hair loss, hypoalbuminemia

Marasmus Prolonged calorie and protein malnutrition

 Principles of Bioenergetics

1. BMR may be obtained by assuming it is 24 kcal/day/kg × body weight.

2.