CHEM 301 - Unit 6 Review.

CHEM 301 - Unit 6 Review/CHEM 301 - Unit 6 Review. Unit 6 Learning Objectives 1. Explain the meaning of the term “metabolic pathway.” Metabolic pathway = tightly regulated, interconnected set of biochemical reactions in which some chemicals (nutrients) are used up and other chemicals are produced 2. List the principle characteristics of metabolic pathways and explain the purpose of each of the two major types of pathways. Characteristics: - Degradative (catabolism) or synthetic (anabolism) - Catabolic: larger molecules are broken down to smaller ones with a release of energy which the cell can harvest as ATP - Anabolic: energy is consumed to produce larger molecules from smaller precursors - Intermediate products can be diverted to enter another pathway Major pathways: - Glycolysis (glucose  pyruvate + ATP) - Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA or Citric Acid Cycle) (pyruvate  NADH/FADH2 + CO2)