Biochemistry - Syllabus statements B.1

What is Metabolism?

Metabolic reactions take place in highly controlled aqueous environments.

Metabolism is the general name given to chemical reactions that occur inside the body in order for organisms to grow, reproduce and for homeostasis to occur. These reactions are generally catalysed by enzymes, which we'll talk about later.

What the syllabus means by "Highly controlled aqueous environments" is that these reactions take place in the cytoplasms of cells, which is roughly 90% water (aqueous). The conditions in the cytoplasm is strictly controlled by homeostasis.
Things that are controlled:
 - pH (by buffers)
 - Concentrations of substances (by active transport and diffusion)
 - Temperature (sweat etc)

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Anabolic and Catabolic reactions

Reactions of breakdown are called catabolism and reactions of synthesis are called anabolism.

Catabolic reactions are reactions where molecules are decomposed or 'broken down' to produce energy.
Examples:
 - Respiration (glucose to H2O + CO2)
 - Breakdown of Proteins into amino acids
 - Breakdown of Lipids into fatty acids
 - Breakdown of starch into glucose (digestion in humans)

Anabolic reactions are the opposite of catabolic reactions. They use energy to synthesise larger molecules from smaller ones.
Examples:
 - Photosynthesis (CO2 + H2O into glucose)
 - Synthesis of proteins from amino acids
 - Synthesis of glucose into starch and cellulose (growth and energy storage in plants)

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Photosynthesis and (Aerobic) respiration

Photosynthesis is the synthesis of energy-rich molecules from carbon dioxide and water using light energy.

Respiration is a complex set of metabolic processes providing energy for cells.

Because this is chemistry and not biology, we only need to know the basics of this, which is some very basic biology, and the formula.

The reactions for photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are opposites of each other. This being said, they do not occur via the same reactions. Both are complex and have a huge number of steps and intermediates.

The use of summary equations of photosynthesis and respiration to explain the potential balancing of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

All this statement is saying is that because plants use carbon dioxide to do photosynthesis and produce oxygen, and we use oxygen to do respiration and produce carbon dioxide, it's a kind of equilibrium. There's no net production of oxygen or carbon dioxide, it's balanced and the concentrations of the gases in the air remains the same.

ANAEROBIC respiration

ANIMALS

Anaerobic respiration is respiration, but in the absence of oxygen. This is what happens when in animals when they don't have enough oxygen to create the amount of energy needed in that short period of time during physical activity. In this case, glucose is broken down into lactic acid to release energy.

Once we return to normal aerobic respiration, our body metabolises (gets rid of) this acid.

PLANTS

In plants and microorganisms however, anaerobic respiration produces ethanol and carbon dioxide instead of lactic acid. Sound familiar? This is how many alcoholic drinks such as beer are brewed from yeast.

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Condensation and Hydrolysis reactions

Explanation of the difference between condensation and hydrolysis reactions.

Condensation reactions are reactions where two molecules combine together to form a larger molecule (common in organic chem) with the elimination of a small molecule which is commonly water.
Examples:
 - Amino acids forming proteins
 - Glucose forming starch (monosaccharides forming polysaccharides)

Hydrolysis reactions on the other hand, are the reverse of condensation reactions. A molecule is hydrolysed when a water molecule (often in the presence of acid or base) breaks a bond in a larger molecule to form 2 smaller molecules.
Examples:
 - Proteins forming amino acids
 - Starch forming glucose (polysaccharides forming monosaccharides)​

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That's all for B.1

I'm trying out a new layout on my new posts, I'm going to try and structure my posts based on the syllabus statements. I think it helps give my posts more structure and easy readability.

let me know in the comments if this new layout is better!