Metabolic pathways
harvest energy from high-energy molecules such as glucose
cellular respiration is critical and often interacts with other pathways
comprises thousands of different chemical reactions that may be organized and regulated
Cellular respiration
occurs through a long series of carefully controlled redox reactions (conserves energy/prevents mini explosions) that use the electrons of high-energy molecules to make ATP
oxygen atoms are reduced to form water
glucose + 6 oxygen gas + ADP + inorganic Phosphate —> 6 carbon dioxide + 6 water + ATP
consists of 4 processes: glycolysis, pyruvate processing, Krebs cycle, and electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation
Glycolysis overview
a series of 10 reactions that occurs in the cytosol of eukaryotes and prokaryotes
net yield of 2 NADH, 2 ATP, 2 H2O, and 2 pyruvate for every glucose
glucose + 2 ATP —> 2 (NADH + H+) + 4 ATP + 2 Pyruvate + 2 H2O
Phosphofructokinase (PFK)
uses ATP to phosphorylate the end of fructose-6-phosphate to form fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
increases potential energy
Pyruvate processing
occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria or the cytosol of prokaryotes
for eukaryotes, pyruvate is transported from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix
catalyzed by pyruvate dehydrogenase, an enormous enzyme complex which is regulated by a negative feedback loop involving ATP
2 pyruvate + 2 NAD+ + 2 Coenzyme A —> 2 acetyl CoA + 2 CO2 + 2 NADH
Decarboxylation: the carboxyl group on pyruvate (the 3rd carbon) is released as CO2
Kinase
enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to another molecule
Phosphotase
enzyme that removes phosphate group
Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle)
also occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria or the cytosol of prokaryotes
2 turns of the citric acid cycle for each glucose molecule
Potential energy is released to reduce coenzymes
The acetyl group (2C) from acetyl CoA is transferred to oxaloacetate (4C) to form citrate (6C); oxaloacetate is regenerated at the end (cycle)
8 reactions
2 acetyl coA —> 6 NADH + 6H+ + 2 FADH2 + 2 ATP + 4CO2
Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation
electron transport chain consisting of 4 main protein complexes establishes a proton gradient that is used to produce ATP
uses NADH and FADH2 produced in previous steps to generate the protein gradient, which contributes to the phosphorylation of ADP
uses O2 (oxygen gas) and produces ATP and water
occurs across the inner membrane of the mitochondria or the plasma membrane + the periplasm of prokaryotes
a small amount of energy is released in each reaction; each successive bond/molecule in the ETC holds less potential energy ; after the ETC, most of the chemical energy from glucose is accounted for by a proton electrochemical gradient
primary goal: make ATP
secondary goal: regenerate NAD+
Periplasm
space between the cell wall and the plasma membrane
2 fundamental requirements of cellular life
energy to generate ATP
a source of carbon to use as raw materials for synthesizing macromolecules
Catabolic pathways
involve the breakdown of molecules
often harvest stored chemical energy to produce ATP
Anabolic pathways
result in the synthesis of larger molecules from smaller components
often use energy in the form of ATP
Homeostasis
maintenance of a stable internal environment under different environmental conditions
Energy investment phase (glycolysis)
reactions 1 through 5
uses 2 ATP molecules
regulation of the metabolic pathway occurs during this phase (reaction 3, regulation of phosphofructokinase)
Energy payoff phase (glycolysis)
reactions 6 through 10
NADH is made and ATP is produced by substrate-level phosphorylation
Substrate-level phosphorylation
1 way to make ATP
the ONLY way to produce ATP through glycolysis
enzyme facilitates the transfer of a phosphate group from a substrate to ADP
Glycolysis regulation
regulated by feedback inhibition
high levels of ATP inhibit the third enzyme/step of glycolysis (phosphofructokinase), which have two binding sites for ATP
when ATP binds to the regulatory site of phosphofructokinase, the reaction rate slows dramatically
Regulation of pyruvate processing
when products of glycolysis and pyruvate processing are abundant, pyruvate dehydrogenase is phosphorylated, inducing a conformational change in the enzyme and inhibiting its activity
Citric acid cycle regulation
can be turned off at multiple points via several different mechanisms of feedback inhibitions
regulated at steps 1, 3, and 4 by ATP and NADH
reaction rates are high when ATP and NADH are scarce; rates are low when ATP or NAHD are abundant
Oxidation of NADH and FADH2
oxidized by membrane complexes
NADH is oxidized when combined with the inner membrane of the mitochondria; in prokaryotes, it is oxidized by the plasma membrane
molecules in the inner mitochondrial membrane can cycle between oxidized and reduced states
ETC Protein complexes
most are composed of easily-oxidized proteins
some accept only electrons, while others accept electrons plus protons; each complex has differing redox potentials
Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q, or simply Q)
lipid-soluble, non-protein
critical component of the ETC
reduced by complexes I and II; moves throughout the hydrophobic interior of the electron transport chain membrane, where it is oxidized by complex III
Redox potential
ability to accept electrons
High positive value = more potential to GAIN electrons
strong negative value = more potential to LOSE electrons
Complex I (ETC)
NADH dehydrogenase oxidizes NADH
transfers 2 electrons through proteins containing FMN prosthetic groups and Fe-S cofactors to reduce an oxidized form of Q
4 protons pumped out of the matrix to the intermembrane space per pair of electrons
Complex II (ETC)
Succinate dehydrogenase oxidizes FADH2
transfers the two electrons through proteins containing Fe-S cofactors to reduce an oxidized form of Q
this complex is also used in step 6 of the Krebs cycle
does not produce sufficient energy to pump protons
Complex III
cytochrome c reductase oxidizes Q
transfers 1 electron at a time through proteins containing heme prosthetic groups and Fe-S cofactors to reduce an oxidized form of cytochrome c
4 protons for each pair of electrons is transported from the matrix to the intermembrane space
Cyt c (cyctochrome c)
reduced by accepting a single electron from complex III
moves along the surface of the ETC membrane, where it is oxidized by complex IV
Complex IV
cytochrome c oxidase oxidizes cyt c
transfers each electron through proteins containing heme prosthetic groups to reduce oxygen gas, which picks up two protons from the matrix to produce water
2 additional protons are pumped out of the matrix of the intermembrane space
ATP Synthesis (ETC)
fueled by chemiosmosis; uses the established proton gradient to create ATP using ATP synthase
ATP synthase
located in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes, or the plasma membrane in prokaryotes
creates energy from the proton motive force of the proton gradient to chemical bond energy in ATP
is a rotary machine that makes ATP as it spins
consists of 2 components—an ATPase "knob"/F1 unit, and a membrane-bound, proton-transporting base/F0 unit, which is a rotor that turns as protons flow through it—that are connected by a shaft and held in place by a stator
the spinning F0 unit changes the conformation of the F1 unit so that it phosphorylates ADP to form ATP
Oxidative phosphorylation
oxidative = FADH2 and NADH are being oxidized
phosphorylation = ADP —> ATP
different from substrate-level phosphorylation because instead of potential energy activating the enzyme, kinetic energy activates the enzyme (movement of protons down their gradient)
yields ~24-28 ATP per glucose
Chemiosmotic hypothesis
the linkage between electron transport and ATP production by ATP synthase is indirect
the synthesis of ATP only requires a proton gradient
Aerobic respiration
O2, which has a very high redox potential, is the final electron acceptor
most efficient—CO2 (single-carbon compound) is the byproduct
Anaerobic respiration
some other compound is the final electron acceptor
has a lower energy yield compared to aerobic respiration because oxygen is super electronegative and has a high redox potential
less efficient—some other carbon-containing (organic) molecule is the byproduct (ethanol, lactic acid, etc)
seen in some prokaryotes
Fermentation
a metabolic pathway that regenerates NAD+ from NADH
the electron in NADH is transferred to pyruvate
serves as an emergency backup for aerobic respiration when there is not enough oxygen
incomplete oxidation of glucose; much less efficient than cellular respiration
produces 2 ATP per glucose, compared with about 29 ATP per glucose in cellular respiration
Lactic acid fermentation
fermentation in which the product is lactic acid
occurs in humans in the absence of oxygen
muscle cramps = the accumulation of lactic acid
in humans, lactic acid fermentation results in the production of yogurt, cheese, etc
produces only 2 ATP (by substrate-level phosphorylation)
Ethanol fermentation
some yeast cells can perform alcohol fermentation
pyruvate is converted to acetaldehyde and CO2
acetaldehyde accepts electrons from NADH
ethanol and NAD+ are produced
Faculative anaerobes
organisms that can switch between fermentation and aerobic respiration
only use fermentation if an electron acceptor is not available
E.coli, yeast, etc
Glycolysis step 1
hexokinase uses ATP to phosphorylate glucose, increasing its potential energy
forms glucose-6-phosphate and ADP
Glycolysis Step 2
phosphoglucose isomerase converts glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate (an isomer)
Glycolysis Step 3
Phosphofructokinase uses ATP to phosphorylate the opposite end of fructose-6-phosphate, increasing its potential energy
forms fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
Glycolysis Step 4
fructose-bis-phosphate aldolase cleaves fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into 2 different 3-carbon sugars (DAP and G3P)
Glycolysis Step 5
triose phosphate isomerase converts dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DAP) to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P)
reaction is fully reversible, but DAP-to-G3P reaction is favored because G3P can be immediately used as a substrate for step 6
Glycolysis Step 6
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) dehydrogenase catalyzes a 2-step reaction
first oxidizes G3P using the NAD+ coenzyme to produce NADH
Energy from this reaction is used to attach an inorganic phosphate to the oxidized product to form 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate
Glycolysis Step 7
phosphoglycerate kinase transfers a phosphate from 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to ADP to make 3-phosphoglycerate and ATP (PRODUCES ATP—1 for each 3-carbon intermediate)
Glycolysis Step 8
phosphoglycerate mutase rearranges the phosphate in 3-phosphoglycerate to form 2-phosphoglycerate
Glycolysis Step 9
enolase removes a water molecule from 2-phosphoglycerate to form a C=C double bond and produce phosphoenolpyruvate
Glycolysis Step 10
remaining phosphate groups are added to 2 ADP molecules to form 2 ATP and pyruvate
pyruvate kinase transfers a phosphate fro phosphoenolpyruvate to ADP to make pyruvate and ATP
Electron Transport Chain Theoretical Yield
1 NADH = 3 ATP
1 FADH2 = 2 ATP (lower because complex II, where FADH2 is oxidized, has a lower redox potential than complex I, where NADH is oxidized)
ETC Actual Yield
1 NADH = ~2.25 ATP
1 FADH2 = ~1.25 ATP
Meiosis
reduction division
the number of chromosomes in the daughter cell(s) are halved —> 4 daughter cells
integral to sexual reproduction; creates genetic variation and diversity
Interphase (G1, S, G2), Meiosis I, and Meiosis II
Gametogenesis
production of gametes
uses meiosis in animals
spermatogenesis = creation of sperm
oogenesis = creation of eggs
Traits
characteristics that are inherited
specified by genes
Genes
specific segments of DNA at a specific location (locus) on chromosomes
code for proteins or RNA that produce an organism's inherited traits
may occur in several varieties (alleles) that may code for different variants of the same trait
Karyotype
identifies the number and types of chromosomes present in a species
Karyotyping: technique to view chromosomes
Homologous chromosomes (homologs)
chromosomes of the same type (size and shape)
not identical
Homologous pairs
a pair of homologs
contain the same genes in the same position along the chromosome (but not identical!!)
Ploidy
each species has a haploid number (n), which indicates the number of DISTINCT TYPES of chromosomes present (sex chromosomes count as a single type)
indicates the number of complete chromosome sets it contains
in humans, n = 23
Diploid
organisms or cells that have a paternal and maternal chromosome
2n; contains 2 homologs of each chromosome, and 2 alleles of each gene
Haploid
organisms or cells containing only one of each type of chromosome, with just one allele of each gene
Polyploid
organisms or cells containing 3 or more versions of each type of chromosome
Sex chromosomes
determine the sex of the individual
in many animals, X and Y are the sex chromosomes; there are sex-determining regions within these chromosomes
also contain homologous regions that do not determine sex
Autosomes
non-sex chromosomes
S phase (meiosis)
DNA in each chromosome in the diploid (2n) parent cell is replicated
when replication is complete, each chromosome has two identical sister chromatids, which remain attached along most of their life (still considered a single chromosome)
Meiosis I
homologs separate so that one homolog goes to one daughter cell and the other homolog goes to the other daughter cell
each daughter cell has one set of chromosomes; 1 cell (2n) —> 2 cells (n)
sister chromatids stay together, while non-sister chromatids separate
Meiosis II
sister chromatids separate
reduction division; 2 cells (n) —> 4 cells (n), each with a single chromosome of the homologous pair
equivalent to mitosis in a haploid cell
Spindle apparatus
made up of microtubules
coordinate chromosome movement
Meiosis in animal life cycles
meiosis reduces chromosome number in half—in animals, these products of meiosis are gametes (sperm or eggs)
gametes fuse by fertilization, which restores diploidy; resulting diploid cell is called a zygote and represents the start of a new organism
Early prophase I
nuclear envelope begins to break down
chromosomes condense—as they condense, sister chromatids stay joined along their entire length by cohesins
spindle apparatus begins to form
nucleolus disappears
synapsis occurs
Synapsis
the pairing process in which homologous pairs come together
held together by proteins called the synaptonemal complex
Bivalent
structure that results from synapsis
consists of two homologs
Tetrad
structure containing 4 sister and nonsister chromatids
Late prophase I
nuclear envelope breaks down
centromeres of homologs become attached to microtubules from opposite poles of the spindle apparatus
chiasma formation and homologous recombination (crossing over) occur
synaptonemal complex eventually disassembles in late prophase I, leaving homologs held together only at chiasmata
Chiasma formation
synaptonemal complex dissociates except for at certain points called chiasmata, where DNA exchange (crossing over) between homologous non-sister chromatids occurs
Homologous recombination (crossing over)
KEY event in meiosis; carefully regulated
breaks are made in the DNA and reattached
occurs between homologous segments of non-sister chromatids
spindle fibers partially separate chromosomes during crossing over
produces chromosomes with a combination of maternal and paternal alleles
Metaphase I
tetrads line up at the metaphase plate
alignment of the homologs is random and independent of the alignment of other homologs (independent assortment)
Anaphase I
paired homologs separate and migrate to the opposite ends of the cell
sister chromatids of each chromosome remain together
non-sister chromatids separate
Telophase I (interkinesis)
homologs finish moving to opposite sides of the spindle
spindle fibers partially disassemble
other steps are not the same for all organisms—chromosomes may decondense, nucleolus/nuclear envelope may reappear
Prophase II
spindle apparatus forms
one spindle fiber attaches to the centromere of each sister chromatid and moves the pairs of sister chromatids back and forth
Metaphase II
replicated chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate
Anaphase II
sister chromatids separate
resulting daughter chromosomes begin moving to opposite sides of the cell
Telophase II
chromosomes arrive at opposite sides of the cell
a nuclear envelope forms around each haploid set of chromosomes
chromosomes decondense
nucleolus reappears
spindle completely disappears
Similarities between mitosis and meiosis
Begins after a cell has passed through the G1, S, and G2 phases of the cell cycle
cell division
Differences between mitosis and meiosis
homologous pairs form a tetrad
at metaphase plate, there are tetrads instead of individual replicated chromosomes (sister chromatids)
crossing over occurs in meiosis
meiosis is a reduction division
produces genetically distinct haploid daughter cells rather than genetically identical diploid daughter cells
Mutations
original source of genetic variation
produce different versions of genes—can be positive or negative
Genetic diversity
variation in gene pool of a species
produced by mutations and meiosis/sexual reproduction
sources include crossing over (creating new combinations of alleles that did not exist in the parents) and independent assortment (creating more possible combinations of genetic material)
Fertilization (genetic diversity)
each gamete is genetically unique
even in self-fertilization where gametes from the same individual combine, the offspring will be genetically different from the parent
outcrossing: where gametes from two individuals combine, increasing the genetic diversity of the offspring even further
Nondisjunction
occurs when both homologs or both sister chromatids move to the same pole in the parent cell, leading to abnormal products of meiosis
results in gametes that contain an extra chromosome (n+1) or lack one chromosome (n-1)
Trisomy
result of fertilization of a n + 1 gamete
Monosomy
result of fertilization of an n-1 gamete
Aneuploid
cells with too many or too few chromosomes
Nondisjunction
disjunction of the chromatids did not occur properly; may have different outcomes depending on where the nondisjunction occurred (Meiosis I vs Meiosis II)
nondisjunction in meiosis I affects all gametes, while nondisjunction in meiosis II affects only 2
Oogenesis in humans
primary oocytes enter meiosis I during female embryonic development and arrest in prophase I until sexual maturity is reached
meiosis is not completed until ovulation, years later
Purifying selection
natural selection against deleterious alleles; favors sexual reproduction
over time, purifying selection should steadily reduce the numerical advantage of asexual reproduction—in asexual reproduction, a damage gene will be inherited by all of that individual's offspring, while in sexual reproduction, offspring will likely lack deleterious alleles present in the parent
The changing-environment hypothesis
if a new strain of disease-causing agent evolves all of the asexually produced offspring are likely to be susceptible to that new strain, but if the offspring are genetically varied, then it is likely that some offspring will have combinations of alleles that enable them to fight off the new disease and eventually produce offspring of their own
supported by studies involving roundworms and tracking the rate of outcrossing between populations that were introduced to a pathogen and populations that were not
therefore, sexual reproduction may be an adaptation that increases the fitness of individuals in certain environments
Binary Fission
Asexual cell division for unicellular organisms
Purpose: reproduction; division of one cell reproduces the entire organism
Occurs in bacteria, archaea, and protists
bacterial chromosome replication —> segregation (proteins bind to chromosomes and separate them) —> other proteins (tubulin homologs) divide the cytoplasm —> PG (peptidoglycan?) is synthesized
Mitosis
a type of cell division where the daughter cells are identical to the parent cell (clones—same genetic content)
purpose: reproduction, growth and development, and tissue renewal within multicellular organisms; essential for the development of the zygote into the adult organism
number of chromosomes is conserved in division
Haploid cells
contain one copy of each chromosome
Diploid cells
contain two copies of each chromosome