Intermediary metabolism: metabolic paths and enzymes

18 important questions on Intermediary metabolism: metabolic paths and enzymes

What is intermediary metabolism?

The interconversion of chemical compounds in the body, the pathways taken by individual molecules, their interrelationships and the mechanisms that regulate the flow of metabolites through the pathways.

Well-known drugs (such as aspirine, ACE-inhibitors, viagra, penicillin etc) have something in common. What is this?

They are all enzyme inhibitors.

What is the mechanism of hydrolases (lipases, proteases)?

  1. Add acyl group (acylation)
  2. Remove acyl group (deacylation)
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Enzymes are characterized by 2 parameters. Which?

  • Vmax, Kcat
  • Km

What is the relation between the Km and affinity?

High Km=low affinity

What determines the speed of a pathway?

The slowest reaction

What are different types of enzyme regulation?

  • Competitive inhibition of an enzyme
  • Allosteric regulation
  • Hormonal enzyme regulation
  • Prolonged need for increased enzyme activity

What is competitive inhibition of an enzyme?

It's a competition between the substrate and an inhibitor. The one that has the highest amount 'wins'.

What is the function of hormonal enzyme regulation?

Ensure that degradation and synthesis never occur simultaneously (futile cycle).

What do you know about insulin compared to glucagon when speaking of phosphorylation?

Glucagon adds a phosphor group, so phosphorylates.
Insulin removes the phosphor group, so dephosphorylates.

Can you explain the function of insulin and glucagon using glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen synthase as examples?

Glycogen phosphorylase (to break down glycogen) is inactive when there is insulin. When there is glucagon, it gets phosphorylated and becomes active.
Glycogen synthase (to make glycogen) is active when there is insulin, when there is glucagon it becomes phosphorylated and inactive.

What is meant with the prolonged need for increased enzyme activity?

Gene transcription is increased. For example after eating/drinking alcohol or fat for a long period.
The enzymes that break down these things are upregulated.

What is the function of the pentose phosphate pathway?

  • Detoxification
  • DNA/RNA synthesis

Which source of glucose is used when?

  1. Glucose that is ingested (until 6 hours, fed)
  2. Glycogenolysis (5 days until 30 hours, fasting)
  3. Gluconeogenesis (6 hours ~, starvation)

What does glucagon control? How?

  • Glucose levels via activation of glycogen-phosphorylase.
  • Speed of gluconeogenesis

What is an important side step of glycolysis? What percentage goes into this side step?

Pentose Phosphate Pathway, 30% goes into this pathway.

What do cancer therapies aim to do?

Stop DNA synthesis to prevent cells from dividing.

How are ketone bodies produced, what is the beginning product and what are the end products?

Beginning product: 2 acetyl CoA
End product: acetoacetate and hydroxybutyrate

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