Biochemistry Study Guide

Amino Acids and Protein Structure

Structure, classification, and properties of amino acids; peptide bonds; primary through quaternary structure; protein folding and denaturation.

Enzyme Kinetics and Regulation

Michaelis-Menten kinetics, Lineweaver-Burk plots, inhibition types, allosteric regulation, covalent modification, and zymogen activation mechanisms.

Carbohydrate Chemistry

Monosaccharide stereochemistry, anomers, epimers, glycosidic bonds, and structure of disaccharides and polysaccharides including glycogen.

Glycolysis

Ten reaction steps, substrate-level phosphorylation, ATP yield, and regulation by hexokinase, PFK-1, and pyruvate kinase.

Gluconeogenesis and Glycogen Metabolism

Bypass reactions, Cori cycle, glycogen synthesis and breakdown, and reciprocal hormonal regulation by insulin and glucagon.

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

Oxidative and non-oxidative phases producing NADPH for biosynthesis and ribose-5-phosphate for nucleotide synthesis.

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase and Citric Acid Cycle

PDH complex regulation, eight TCA cycle reactions, NADH/FADH2/GTP production, and anaplerotic reactions replenishing intermediates.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Electron transport chain complexes, proton gradient formation, chemiosmotic coupling, ATP synthase mechanism, and effects of inhibitors.

Fatty Acid Oxidation and Ketone Bodies

Carnitine shuttle, β-oxidation spiral pathway, ATP yield calculations, and ketogenesis during fasting and diabetes.

Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Synthesis

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase regulation, fatty acid synthase complex, malonyl-CoA role, and cholesterol biosynthesis overview.

Amino Acid Catabolism and Urea Cycle

Transamination, oxidative deamination, five urea cycle steps, nitrogen disposal, and clinical metabolic defects.

Metabolic Integration and Hormonal Regulation

Fed, fasted, and starving states; tissue-specific metabolism in liver, muscle, brain, and adipose tissue coordination.