Metabolic Pathways and Covalent Catalysis

Eukaryotic Metabolic Pathways and Cellular Compartments

• Metabolic Pathway and Corresponding Sub-cellular Compartment
    - Glycolysis
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Cytoplasm
    - Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Mitochondrial Matrix
    - RNA Transcription
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Nucleus
    - DNA Replication
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Nucleus
    - Electron Transport Chain
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
    - Synthesis of Cytosolic Proteins
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Cytoplasm
    - Fatty Acid Biosynthesis
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Cytoplasm
    - Synthesis of Secretory Proteins
      - Sub-cellular Compartment: Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

Characteristics of a Good Covalent Catalyst

• Characteristic 1: A good covalent catalyst should be able to form a stable covalent bond with a substrate, facilitating the reaction by transiently modifying its structure.
• Characteristic 2: It should have a favorable reaction environment (like pH and temperature) that allows for the formation and breakdown of this bond efficiently, thus enhancing the overall reaction rate without permanently altering the catalyst.

Amino Acid Functional Groups in Covalent Catalysis

• Functional Group 1: Hydroxyl group (–OH)
    - Amino Acid Example: Serine
• Functional Group 2: Thiol group (–SH)
    - Amino Acid Example: Cysteine
• Functional Group 3: Carboxyl group (–COOH)
    - Amino Acid Example: Aspartic Acid