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Chemistry LibreTexts

14: Metabolism

  • Page ID
    521945
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    Metabolic pathways linked series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. The reactants, products, and intermediates of an enzymatic reaction are known as metabolites, which are modified by a sequence of chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes. In a metabolic pathway, the product of one enzyme acts as the substrate for the next. These enzymes often require dietary minerals, vitamins, and other cofactors to function. There are two types of metabolic pathways that are characterized by their ability to either synthesize molecules with the utilization of energy (anabolic pathway) or break down of complex molecules by releasing energy in the process (catabolic pathway). The two pathways complement each other in that the energy released from one is used up by the other.

    • 14.1: Basics of Metabolism
      Metabolism, its subclasses: catabolism, anabolism; stages of food catabolism, and some important compounds involved in food catabolism, including ATP/ADP, NAD+/NADH, FAD/FADH2 pairs are described.
    • 14.2: Small Molecules Involved in Metabolism
      During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into monosaccharides, proteins are broken down into amino acids, and triglycerides are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids. The products of digestion converge into the citric acid cycle via Acetyl-CoA.
    • 14.3: Digestion of Food
      Stage 1 of food catabolism, i.e., hydrolysis of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by various digestive enzymes, is described.
    • 14.4: Stage 1 - Digestion of Carbohydrates
      During digestion, carbohydrates in our diet are broken down into monosaccharides via a hydrolysis reaction. Digestion of starch starts in the mouth, however most of the digestion occur in the small intestine.
    • 14.5: Stage 1 - Digestion of Proteins
      During digestion, the peptide bonds in proteins undergo hydrolysis to amino acids. The digestion process of proteins begins in the stomach and continues in the small intestine.
    • 14.6: Stage 1 - Digestion of Fats
      Bile salts help to emulsify the hydrophobic triglycerides in the aqueous gastric solution. The enzyme lipase catalyze the hydrolysis (digestion) of the triglycerides to fatty acids and monoglycerides.
    • 14.7: Stage 2 - Glycolysis and Metabolism of Pyruvate
      In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted to lactate or alcohol. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA which enters the citric acid cycle.
    • 14.8: Stage 3 - Citric Acid Cycle
      At first glance, the citric acid cycle appears rather complex. All the reactions, however, are familiar types in organic chemistry: hydration, oxidation, decarboxylation, and hydrolysis.
    • 14.9: Stage 2 and 3 - Fatty Acid Catabolism
      Fatty acids, obtained from the breakdown of triglycerides and other lipids, are oxidized through a series of four reactions in a spiral. The products of the spirals are processes by the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP.
    • 14.E: Metabolism (Exercises)
      Problems and select solutions for the chapter.


    This page titled 14: Metabolism is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sol Parajon Puenzo (Cañada College) .

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