Biochemistry : Catabolic Pathways and Metabolism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Lactic Acid Fermentation

What is the primary function of fermentation?

Possible Answers:

Production of ethanol to be used as a fuel source 

Regeneration of 

Production of oxygen to be used in aerobic pathways in the future

Regeneration of NADH

Production of lactic acid to be used as a fuel source

Correct answer:

Regeneration of 

Explanation:

NADH is, under aerobic conditions, returned to  when it has its electrons taken in the electron transport chain. However, anaerobic conditions disallow this from occurring, and so NADH will build up in the cell. Fermentation is a pathway that allows pyruvate to be converted to either ethanol or lactic acid (depending on the organism) in order to regenerate the supply of .

Example Question #1 : Lactic Acid Fermentation

What is the main goal of fermentation?

Possible Answers:

To produce ATP in higher quantities than from oxidative phosphorylation

To regenerate ADP

To generate additional oxygen

To create more

To regenerate

Correct answer:

To regenerate

Explanation:

Fermentation take place when there is a lack of oxygen in a cell. Without oxygen, the only process that can create ATP from glucose is glycolysis. However, NADH is created during glycolysis, and must be turned back to  in order to continue metabolizing glucose with glycolysis. Fermentation, therefore, has the main responsibility of regenerating .

Example Question #5 : Lactic Acid Fermentation

When human muscles are deprived of oxygen, they are unable to fully metabolize glucose via aerobic respiration. Instead, the pyruvate made in glycolysis is reduced to form lactic acid. Which of the following gives the correct reason for why pyruvate needs to be converted into lactic acid?

Possible Answers:

To balance the pH of the cell

To regenerate 

Because lactic acid is more stable, the muscle cell can store it until a later time when more oxygen is available

The production of lactic acid serves no real purpose

Correct answer:

To regenerate 

Explanation:

As alluded to in the question stem, an abundance of oxygen allows aerobic respiration to proceed. This allows glucose to be oxidized completely to yield a high amount of energy. In contrast, when oxygen is scarce, cells revert to an alternative method of producing energy, but one that is far less efficient. This is known as anaerobic respiration.

Though there are different types of anaerobic respiration, the one relevant to this question is lactic acid fermentation. In this process, the pyruvate coming from glycolysis is converted into lactic acid. When this happens, NADH is also oxidized back into its non-reduced form. This is the reason why fermentation occurs. If all of the cell's NAD were to be in its reduced form, then there's no way that glycolysis could proceed. Since glycolysis doesn't rely on oxygen, this is the only pathway to provide a stable energy source during oxygen deprivation. So in order to regenerate the  needed for glycolysis to continue, it needs to donate its electrons onto pyruvate, which produces lactic acid.

Example Question #1 : Lactic Acid Fermentation

An olympic sprinter is in the middle of a grueling workout. Which process would you least expect to be occurring in his body?

Possible Answers:

Lactic acid fermentation

Glycogenolysis

Gluconeogenesis

Glycolysis

The Cori cycle

Correct answer:

Gluconeogenesis

Explanation:

Because the sprinter is exercising at a high intensity, his body is metabolizing its fuel under anaerobic conditions. Lactic acid fermentation is the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, and occurs only under anaerobic conditions. Glycolysis always occurs under anaerobic conditions, and glucose needs to be broken down to fuel the sprinter. The Cori cycle is the process that describes anaerobic metabolism on a larger scale (the conversion of glucose to pyruvate, to lactate, and back to glucose). Finally, because the athlete is using up his glucose, glycogenolysis will occur in order to convert some of his stored glucose (glycogen) to blood glucose.  

The only answer choice remaining is gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis and glycolysis occurring at the same time would be called a "futile cycle". They are opposing pathways, and if one is occurring, there is no need for the other to occur, that would be wasteful. We already established that glycolysis was occurring, so it is unlikely that gluconeogenesis would also occur.

Example Question #1 : Lactic Acid Fermentation

During lactic acid fermentation, what is the final electron acceptor?

Possible Answers:

NADH

Pyruvate

Ethanol

Carbon dioxide

Oxygen

Correct answer:

Pyruvate

Explanation:

Under normal aerobic conditions, the final electron acceptor at the end of the electron transport chain is oxygen. However, fermentation occurs when there is no oxygen available. Therefore, something else must act as the final electron acceptor. In lactic acid fermentation, NADH is the electron carrier that ultimately carries them to pyruvate. Pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid, and thus, acted as the final electron acceptor.

Example Question #1 : Ethanol Fermentation

Multiple studies have shown that drinking lots of alcohol can lead to an increase in body fat. 

From a biochemical perspective, what aspect of alcohol metabolism may suggest that it contributes to an increase in body fat?

Possible Answers:

Formation of acetals and ketals 

Formation of acetic acid

Formation of acetaldehyde

Production of acetyl-CoA

Correct answer:

Production of acetyl-CoA

Explanation:

Fats are broken down into acetyl-CoA to be used for energy. However, large quantities of alcohol will produce large quantities of acetyl-CoA when metabolized. Acetyl-CoA can be converted into fatty acids when it is in excess. Then fatty acids can assemble into triglycerides and be stored as fat.

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