Basic Concepts of Cellular Metabolism & Bioenergetics

(Chapter 14)
™Metabolism is how cells acquire, transform, store & use energy. It is the
sum total of all chemical reactions (organized into pathways) in an
organism as well their coordination, regulation & energy requirements.
14.1 Intermediary Metabolism
-organisms classified according to carbon & energy sources & role of O2.
-catabolism (degradation, oxidation, exergonic, convergent) & its 3 stages.
-anabolism (biosynthesis, reduction, endergonic, divergent)
-ATP, NAD+/NADH & NADPH play important roles in metabolism
14.2 The Chemistry of Metabolism
-six types of chemical reactions: oxidation-reduction; group-transfer;
hydrolysis; nonhydrolytic cleavage; isomerization/rearrangement; bond
formation using ATP
14.3 Concepts of Bioenergetics
-Gibbs free energy change (∆G, ∆G° & ∆G°′) is a measure of the quantity of
usable energy in a reaction (exergonic vs endergonic)
-free energy & the equilibrium constant are related: ∆G = –RTlnKeq
-coupling unfavorable endergonic reactions to favorable exergonic reactions
-energy is stored in phosphoanhydride bonds of ATP & other high-energy
phosphorylated compounds
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14.1 Intermediary Metabolism

Learning Objectives: have a fundamental understanding of the principles, coordination &
bioenergetics of intermediary metabolism.
™EXAMPLE: Describe four terms used to classify
organisms based on carbon, energy source & role of
O2?

™EXAMPLE: What are four

characteristics of catabolism?

™EXAMPLE: What are four

characteristics of anabolism?
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ATP Energy Cycle

™Catabolism releases potential
energy from food & collects it in
ATP; Anabolism uses ATP to
perform work

™EXAMPLE: Is the
phosphoester bond to
the α-phosphorus in ATP
a “high energy” bond?
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The Three Stages

of Catabolism

™EXAMPLE: What
reduced cofactors link
the citric acid cycle with
oxid. phosphorylation?
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14.2 The Chemistry of Metabolism

Learning Objectives: be able to classify biochemical reactions in terms of the six types of
chemistry catalyzed by enzymes & occurring in biological cells.
™Despite the nearly 3000 enzyme-catalyzed reactions in a human cell, only
a few types of chemical reactions are used to accomplish metabolism.
1. Oxidation-Reduction Reactions Involved Transfer of Electrons

™EXAMPLE: What are the names of two enzyme classes that catalyze redox
reactions?

™EXAMPLE: What is the oxidized form of FADH2?

™EXAMPLE: What is the reduced form of NAD+?
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The Chemistry of Metabolism – Cont.

2. Group-Transfer Reactions Transfer a Functional Group From One
Molecule to Another or Within a Single Molecule

™EXAMPLE: What is the name of the enzyme class that catalyzes group-
transfer reactions?

5. Isomerization & Rearrangement Reactions Involve Rearrangement of

Functional Groups Within a Single Molecule to Form Isomers

™EXAMPLE: What is the name of the enzyme class that catalyzes isomerization
& rearrangement reactions?
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The Chemistry of Metabolism – Cont.

3. Hydrolysis Reactions Involve Cleavage of Bond by Water

™EXAMPLE: What is the name of the enzyme class that catalyzes hydrolysis
reactions?

4. Nonhydrolytic Cleavage Reactions Split a Molecule Without the Use of

Water

™EXAMPLE: What is the name of the enzyme class that catalyzes nonhydrolytic
cleavage reactions?
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The Chemistry of Metabolism – Cont.

6. Bond Formation Reactions Using Energy from ATP

™EXAMPLE: What are the names of two enzyme classes that catalyze bond
formation reactions using ATP?
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14.3 Concepts of Bioenergetics

Learning Objectives: understand the concept of free energy change & the role of ATP in
transferring energy from exergonic processes to endergonic processes
™Hierarchy of Bioenergetics

Gibbs Free Energy Change (∆G) – a measure of the quantity of usable energy
in a reaction

Exergonic –

Endergonic –

™EXAMPLE: What is the difference between ∆G, ∆G° & ∆G°′?

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Calculations Involving ∆Gº′ and K′eq

For the following equilibrium reaction, calculate K′eq if ∆Gº′ is –30.5 kJ/mol.
ATP + H2O ADP + Pi

™ See Chapter 14 HW problems 14.6, 14.19, 14.24, 14.31

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Coupling Unfavorable Reactions to Favorable Reactions

™Thermodynamic Functions (∆H & ∆G) of Coupled Reactions Are Additive

™Coupling the Hydrolysis of Phosphoenolpyruvate (Highly Exergonic) with

Phosphorylation of ADP (Highly Endergonic):

1) PEP + H2O Æ pyruvate + Pi ∆G = –61.9 kJ/mol

2) ADP + Pi Æ ATP + H2O ∆G = +30.5 kJ/mol

Overall: PEP + ADP Æ pyruvate + ATP ∆G = –31.4 kJ/mol

™EXAMPLE: Is the following reaction expected to be exergonic or endergonic?

AMP + Pi Æ ADP + H2O
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Reactive “Energy-Rich” Biomolecules for Energy Transfer

™EXAMPLE: What are two reasons why ATP
has a such a large negative ∆G value?