Biochemistry : Catabolic Pathways and Metabolism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Glycolysis Regulation

The enzyme phosphofructokinase is an important enzyme that plays a significant regulatory role in glycolysis. Which of the following conditions would be expected to result in increased activity of this enzyme?

Possible Answers:

High levels of NADH

High levels of citric acid cycle intermediates

Low levels of ATP

None of these

Low levels of ADP

Correct answer:

Low levels of ATP

Explanation:

We're told in the question stem that phosphofructokinase is an important regulatory enzyme for the glycolysis pathway. In this pathway, glucose is partially oxidized to provide energy for the cell. Therefore, when the cell has plenty of energy available to meet its metabolic needs, the activity of phosphofructokinase will be reduced in order to suppress glycolysis. Alternatively, when the cell is in need of energy, it will turn glycolysis on by increasing the activity of this enzyme. Thus, compounds that indicate the cell has a lot of energy available, such as ATP and NADH, would be expected to be allosteric inhibitors of this enzyme. So, if the cell has a low amount of ATP, the energy carrying molecule, we would expect the activity of this enzyme to be high. High levels of NADH and citric acid cycle intermediates signal that the cell has enough energy, therefore these would serve to reduce the activity of this enzyme. Low levels of ADP would signal that the cell most likely has a high amount of ATP and is thus in a state of energy surplus. Consequently, this scenario would likely reduce the activity of this enzyme.

Example Question #2 : Glycolysis Regulation

Which of the following choices will result in continuous glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Loss of allosteric binding site for fructose-2,6-bisphosphate on phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

Loss of allosteric binding site for fructose-1,6-bisphosphate on pyruvate kinase

Loss of allosteric binding site for ATP on phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

ATP binding to the allosteric site on pyruvate kinase

Correct answer:

Loss of allosteric binding site for ATP on phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

Explanation:

When there are high levels of ATP in the blood, ATP itself can act as a signal for the inhibition of ATP production. phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) and pyruvate kinase are major sites of glycolytic regulation. ATP can inhibit these enzymes by binding to their allosteric sites. If these allosteric binding sites are lost, ATP can never bind, and glycolysis will continue indefinitely. Conversely, glycolytic intermediates (like fructose-1,6-bisphosphate) and glycolytic activators (like fructose-2,6-bisphosphate) can act on the same enzymes to increase their activity. Loss of allosteric binding sites for fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate on pyruvate kinase and PFK-1, respectively, will result in the slowing down or inhibition of glycolysis.

Example Question #1 : Glycolysis Regulation

All of the following stimulate glycolysis except __________.

Possible Answers:

decreased pH level

high level of carbon dioxide

increased level of pyruvate

decresed level of ATP

increased level of AMP

Correct answer:

increased level of pyruvate

Explanation:

Glycolysis will be stimulated in situations that require the body to make more ATP.  When the pH is low, ATP is depleted, AMP is at high levels, and carbon dioxide is increased, the body is likely going to need more of an energy supply.  All of these are related to exercise - a situation in which more ATP will be required.  However, an increase in levels of pyruvate implies that glycolysis is actually backed up and should not be stimulated.

Example Question #1 : Glycolysis Regulation

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate will strongly upregulate which of the following enzymes?

Possible Answers:

Phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2)

Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase-2)

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase-1)

Correct answer:

Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)

Explanation:

While phosphofructokinase-2 is responsible for creating fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, this molecule will actually upregulate the enzymatic activity of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1). As a result, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate is responsible for increasing the amount of glycolysis done in cells via activation of the glycolytic enzyme PFK-1. 

Example Question #2 : Glycolysis Regulation

Glycolysis is an energy producing process that breaks down glucose. 

In glycolysis, feedback regulation is seen in which of the following examples?

Possible Answers:

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate inhibiting pyruvate kinase

AMP inhibiting PFK-1 (phosphofructokinase-1) 

Hexokinase inhibited by ATP 

Insulin inhibiting pyruvate kinase.

ATP inhibiting PFK-1 (phosphofructokinase-1) 

Correct answer:

ATP inhibiting PFK-1 (phosphofructokinase-1) 

Explanation:

Feedback inhibition is a process by which the products of a reaction or series of reactions slows, stops or inhibits one of the previous reactions in the process, thereby controlling the rate of reaction, and rate of formation of the products.

In glycolysis, one of the end products is energy in the form of ATP. ATP acts as an inhibitor of phosphofructokinase-1, one of the main rate limiting enzymes in glycolysis. 

Example Question #971 : Biochemistry

In which of the following cases would the citric acid cycle be downregulated?

Possible Answers:

High levels of ADP

Lower levels of NADH

Increased amounts of 

High levels of ATP

Correct answer:

High levels of ATP

Explanation:

The purpose of the citric acid cycle is to produce energy (both directly via GTP, and indirectly via NADH and . As such, energy can be though of to be on the products side of the sum of the reactions of the Krebs cycle. From Le Chatelier's principle, we know that if we want to inhibit a forward reaction, we can increase the concentration of the products. This will inhibit the forward reaction, and push the equilibrium to the left. Thus, in a high energy state, the ratio of ATP:ADP, like that of NADH: is high since both ATP and NADH are products of metabolism.

Example Question #43 : Citric Acid Cycle

Why can't acetyl-CoA produced from beta-oxidation enter into the Krebs Cycle without carbohydrates present?

Possible Answers:

Acetyl-CoA must first be activated by a carbohydrate before entering into the Krebs cycle

None of these

Acetyl-CoA can enter into the Krebs cycle without carbohydrates present

Downstream of the Krebs cycle, the electron transport chain can not function without carbohydrates present, which in turn causes the Krebs cycle to stop functioning

Acetyl-CoA combines with oxaloacetate to enter into the Krebs cycle which is a carbohydrate

Correct answer:

Acetyl-CoA combines with oxaloacetate to enter into the Krebs cycle which is a carbohydrate

Explanation:

The entry point for acetyl CoA in the Krebs cycle is oxaloacetate. Acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate combine to form citrate, which then continues through the cycle. Oxaloacetate is a carbohydrate, and so without carbs the acetyl-CoA can not enter into the Krebs cycle.

Example Question #243 : Catabolic Pathways And Metabolism

Which of the following is not a regulated step of the citric acid cycle?

Possible Answers:

Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase

Citrate synthase

Isocitrate dehydrogenase

Succinate dehydrogenase

None of these

Correct answer:

Succinate dehydrogenase

Explanation:

The regulated steps of the citric acid cycle are citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. These steps are inhibited and stimulated by various products and reactants within the citric acid cycle. Succinate dehydrogenase is not regulated by products or reactants, and is therefore not rate limiting.

Example Question #241 : Catabolic Pathways And Metabolism

The citric acid cycle is __________.

Possible Answers:

catabolic

both anabolic and catabolic

neither anabolic, nor catabolic

linear

anabolic

Correct answer:

both anabolic and catabolic

Explanation:

The citric acid cycle is amphibolic—that is, both anabolic and catabolic. Anabolism occurs when the citric acid cycle generates reduced factors, such as NADH and FADH2. Catabolism occurs when the citric acid cycle oxidizes the two carbon atoms of acetyl CoA to carbon dioxide (CO2).  

Example Question #2 : Other Citric Acid Cycle Concepts

What is the end product of glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Acetyl-CoA

Citrate

Pyruvate

Glucose

Correct answer:

Pyruvate

Explanation:

Glycolysis involves the conversion of glucose into pyruvate. Recall that glucose is a six-carbon molecule, while pyruvate is a three-carbon molecule. Thus for each molecule of glucose that undergoes glycolysis, two molecules of pyruvate are yielded. Next, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA via the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Finally, acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, combining with oxaloacetate as the first step.

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