In: Chemistry
1) When an abundance of amino acids occurs in the body, excess nitrogen has to be removed. OnewayinwhichthisisdoneisbyUreaSynthesis.
Part A: Describe the metabolic pathway in which Urea is produced, starting with free ammonium (NH4+) in the mitrochondria. What key intermediates are created? Which enzymes are needed to perform these transformations? How does this cycle relate to the TCA cycle?
Part B: Purines also need to be catabolized and removed from the body. What chemical form(s) does/do these purine-degradation product take? How to these products differ between species (e.g., mammals, birds, amphibians)?
Part C: Describe what happens when there are defects in the purine catabolic pathways. What sorts of diseases are a results the buildup of purine degradation products?
2) The energetics of glycolysis has been well studied. While the overall process is exergonic, very few of the steps are significantly so.
Part A: Describe those steps that are exergonic in detail. What sorts of chemical processesarehappening? Howwouldyouclassifyeachtypeofreaction?
Part B: Justify the exergonic nature of each of these steps. What is it about each step that leads to its spontaneous nature? Are any of these steps reversible? Why or why not? If not, how does the body overcome this lack of reversibility?
Part C: Overall, what do you think about the effectiveness and impact of energy generation (ATP generation) of anaerobic vs. aerobic catabolism? If one is more effective vs. the other, why do both types exist?