Chapter 24. Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways

Recommended article : 【Organic Chemistry】 Organic Chemistry Table of Contents

1. Laboratory Reactions and Biological Reactions

⑴ Difference 1. Number of Reactions

① Laboratory Reactions: 100 ~ several hundred

○ So far, mankind has developed fewer than 400 basic substances (ref).

② Biological Reactions

○ An individual organism depends on about 200 to 300 significant biological processes

○ Each biological process consists of dozens of sub-reactions

○ Therefore, there are thousands of chemical reactions operating within a single organism

○ Due to variations in types of chemical reactions between species, the total number of biological reactions is much greater

○ Example: Glucose Catabolism

○ Consists of 10 steps

○ Involves 2 types of shuttle molecules

○ Pyruvate oxidation reaction

○ TCA cycle involving 8 enzymes

○ Electron transport chain involving 4 complexes

○ 2 electron carriers (NADH, FADH₂)

⑵ Difference 2. Stability of Reactions (Homeostasis)

① Laboratory Reactions: Mostly describe well-defined reactions under controlled environment and reactant conditions

② Biological Reactions: Exhibit significant stability even in irregular external environments

⑴ Overview

① Within living organisms, gentle reactions are preferred over harsh conditions

② Preferred Reactions: Alcohols, Aldehydes and Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, Carbonyl Alpha Reactions, Amines and Others

③ Unpreferred Reactions: Halogenated Alkyls, Alkenes and Alkynes, Radical Reactions, Aromatic Compounds

⑵ Examples

① Glycolysis

② TCA Cycle

③ Glucose Synthesis

④ Protein Breakdown

⑤ Protein Synthesis

⑥ Lipid Breakdown

⑦ Lipid Synthesis

Input: 2023.07.02 16:32