METABOLISM: OVERVIEW

METABOLISM-is the collection of enzyme catalyzed reactions that convert substrates

that are external to the cell into various internal products.
CHARACTERISTICS OF METABOLISM
1. Varies from organisms to organism
2. Many common characteristics
3. Affected by environmental conditions
a) O2 availability: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Aerobic growth on glucose more yeast cells
Anaerobic growth on glucose ethanol
b) Control of metabolism is important in bioprocesses

TYPES OF METABOLISM
1. Catabolism
-metabolic reactions in the cell that degrade a substrate into smaller / simpler
products
Glucose CO2
-Reactions that release energy by breaking complex molecules into
simpler ones
XY X + Y + energy
Exergonic reaction
Energy is captured / stored in high energy bonds of ATP & similar molecules
Involves electron transfer (oxidation-reduction)
2. Anabolism
-metabolic reactions that require energy to synthesize larger or
complex molecules from simpler ones
X + Y +energy XY
endergonic reaction

 Needed for growth, reproduction, repair, movement, transport, etc.

Where does the energy come from?

ENERGY & CARBON SOURCES

All living things need energy
All living things need Carbon
Why? To synthesize all organic molecules
Microbes are extremely versatile in the ways in which they acquire energy &
carbon.
OBTAINING CARBON
Auto- (self)
get carbon from CO2 to synthesize organic molecules
Hetero- (other)
get carbon from pre-made organic sources
OBTAINING ENERGY
Photo-capture the energy of light
Chemo-capture energy from chemicals

In metabolism, the energy carrier is often electrons, moving through redox

reactions.

REDOX REACTIONS
Oxidation & reduction reactions are always coupled so we call them RedOx
In redox reactions,
Electrons are transferred from one atom/molecule to another
Simultaneously 2 reactions: red/ox: electron gain/electron loss
The electrons carry energy (so redox reactions are energy transfers)
In a chain of reactions, the electrons must have a final resting place (a terminal
electron acceptor).
- Often, this is oxygen.
Reduction:
net charge is reduced (made more negative) because electrons are
gained
Energy is gained (reduced compound has more energy)
Often, hydrogen is
For example, think:

gained, oxygen is lost

Hydrocarbons.

Totally reduced
Saturated with hydrogen
No oxygen
Lots of energy stored Propane

Oxidation:
Electrons are lost
Energy is lost
Often, the electrons are transferred to oxygen
Oxygen is NOT the only electron acceptor around
There must always be an electron acceptor and an electron donor in redox
reactions (coupled)
For example, think: Hydrocarbons burning
The molecule gains oxygen/loses hydrogen (yielding CO2 & H2O)
Energy is released (heat)

Oxygen is the electron acceptor

If it has hydrogens, it likely canbe oxidized as an energy source(food) by
some type of bacteria!

Electron donor = reducing agent

-The atom or molecule that is oxidized
- It causes something else to be reduced (hence the name reducing agent)
Electron acceptor = oxidizing agent
-The atom or molecule that is reduced
-It causes something else to be oxidized (oxidizing agent)

ELECTRON CARRIERS IN METABOLISM

NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
- Derived from vitamin niacin
FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide)
-Derived from vitamin riboflavin
Both carriers cycle between oxidized (NAD+, FAD)and reduced states (NADH,
FADH2)

ATP: Adenosine triphosphate

is a nucleotide (yes, the same one that goes into DNA!)
Has 3 phosphate groups attached (tri-)
The distal, third phosphate group can be hydrolyzed to release a significant
amount of energy:
ATP ADP + Pi + energy
Where ADP = adenosine diphosphate
Pi = inorganic phosphate (PO43-)
Release of the next phosphate group also releases a lot of energy (ADP AMP + Pi +
energy)
This process is not used as much by living things

One reason why so much energy is released by hydrolysis of the 2nd and 3rd
phosphate groups: Electrostatic repulsion
-Each phosphate group is negatively charged; binding them together takes a
lot of energy
{The first phosphate, attached to the adenosine, can also be cleaved off but the
energy release is not impressive: no repulsion from other phosphates!}

ATP AS GLOBAL ENERGY CURRENCY

The energy of ATP hydrolysis can be captured to perform the work of the cell
ATP is like money that can buy almost any energy-requiring activity

 This reaction is reversible i.e., an input of energy (such as the energy derived
from glucose) can be used to make ATP from ADP & Pi
Phosphorylation of ADP to make ATP is a key feature of metabolism