CHAPTER 4

CONTROL OF CELLS

DNA Replication
Protein Synthesis
Nuclear Division
Enzymes
Metabolism
James L,
General Biology I (MF009)
Foundation in Science
 METABOLISM
You’ll learn about….

1. Energy and Life

2. The Nature of Metabolism
 1. Energy and Life
ENERGY
O Capacity to do work

O Law which apply to energy conversion are the

laws of thermodynamic:
 First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed but

may be converted from one form into another.
Energy is being conserved.
 First Law of Thermodynamics
Example: Dam

LAKE
Kinetic
energy
Heat
Potential
energy Electric
Light

High Cooker
Turbin
Voltage Heat
CD
Sound
Free Energy
O Energy which is available to do work under
conditions of constant temperature and
pressure is called free energy.
O Two types of reaction:
 Exergonic – release energy
 Endergonic – absorb free energy
Energy changes in metabolic reactions.
ATP.
ATP is a nucleotide consisting of a sugar (ribose), a nitrogenous base (adenine), and three
phosphate groups joined to each other. When hydrolyzed, the molecule is split into two
products: ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi). The squiggly lines connecting the second and
third phosphate groups represent the bonds that can be broken when ATP is hydrolyzed.
 release

Producing and “spending”

the cell’s energy currency.
Endergonic and exergonic
reactions are coupled by ATP,
the common denominator in
energy production and
utilization. Exergonic reactions
generate ATP, whereas
endergonic reactions, such as
macromolecular assembly,
utilize ATP.

consume
 Phosphate group transfer is the
How ATP performs work? mechanism responsible for
most types of cellular work.
(a) ATP drives mechanical
work by phosphorylating
motor proteins in the cells.
(b) ATP also drives active
transport by phosphorylating
certain membrane proteins.
(c) ATP drives chemical work
by phosphorylating key
reactant, in this case glutamic
acid that is then converted to
glutamine.
The phosphorylated molecules
lose the phosphate groups as
work is performed, leaving
ADP and inorganic phosphate
as products.
2. The Nature of Metabolism
O Chemical reaction occurs within organism
are collectively known as METABOLISM.
O Most biological processes are in fact a cycle
of reversible reactions, for example:
Photosynthesis
Energy + 6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6 + 6O2
Respiration

O Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are

the main pathway of energy flow in the world
of life.
Main Pathway of Energy Flow
O Three stages to the flow of energy through living system:
1. Conversion of sunlight to chemical energy by plant during
photosynthesis.
2. Conversion of the chemical energy into ATP form in which cells can
utilize it.
3. Utilization of ATP by cells in order to perform useful work.

Heat
Human
Tree
STUDY

banana

Photosynthesis Chemical energy Useful work

ATP
 Metabolic Pathways
O Metabolic pathways is an orderly sequence of reactions,
with specific enzymes acting at each step along the way.

Linear and cyclic metabolic pathways.

 Cont… Metabolic Pathways
O Two types of metabolism:
Anabolism (Anabolic pathways) – build up of complex compounds
Catabolism (Catabolic pathways) – breakdown of complex
compounds

Milk (Protein) Amino Amino Amino Amino

Acid 4 Acid 5 Acid 6 Acid 7
Degradative pathways
Biosynthetic
Amino Amino Amino
Acid 1 Acid 2 Acid 3 Hormone/Antibody

Catabolism Anabolism