Biochemistry 2280A Study Guide - Metabolic Pathway, Anabolism, Covalent Bond

• School: Western University
• Department: Biochemistry
• Course: Biochemistry 2280A
• Professor: Christopher Brandl

Document Summary

Metabolism is the combined sum of the chemical reactions that occur in living organisms. Metabolism is traditionally divided into catabolism, or the breaking down of large molecules into smaller ones, and anabolism, or the combining of small molecules to make larger ones (fig 3-2, p. 82). Metabolic pathways are coordinated series of reactions, catalyzed by enzymes and designed to make specific products (fig 3-1, p. 82). As a general rule, catabolic pathways provide energy and reducing power to the cell, while anabolic pathways consume energy and reducing power. Not every metabolic pathway that occurs in an organism occurs in every cell. Some pathways take place only in specific cellular locations or in specific organs or tissues. In a living cell, molecules flow through each metabolic pathway at some rate, called the flux. For the cell to function efficiently, it must be able to change the flux of molecules through each pathway.