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Chapter 28
Metabolic Integration and
Unidirectionality of Pathways
to accompany
Biochemistry, 2/e
by
Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham
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Outline
Substrate Cycles
If ATP c.c. for a reaction in one direction differs from
c.c. in the other, the reactions can form a
substrate cycle
See Figure 28.2
The point is not that ATP can be consumed by
cycling
But rather that the difference in c.c. permits both
reactions (pathways) to be thermodynamically
favorable at all times
Allosteric effectors can thus choose the direction!
Copyright 1999 by Harcourt Brace & Company
Unidirectionality of Pathways
A "secret" role of ATP in metabolism
Both directions of any pair of opposing
pathways must be favorable, so that
allosteric effectors can control the direction
effectively
The ATP coupling coefficient for any such
sequence has evolved so that the overall
equilibrium for the conversion is highly
favorable
See Figure 28.4 for an illustration!
Copyright 1999 by Harcourt Brace & Company
Energy Charge
Adenylates provide phosphoryl groups to
drive thermodynamically unfavorable
reactions
Energy charge is an index of how fully
charged adenylates are with phosphoric
anhydrides
If [ATP] is high, E.C.1.0
If [ATP] is low, E.C. 0
Copyright 1999 by Harcourt Brace & Company