UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA 2009/2010 END OF SEMESTER FIVE EXAMINATIO! FRONT PAGE Course No BIO 307 Duration 2 hours Date November 2009 Title of Paper BIOCHEMISTRY Subject | INSTRUCTIONS: Answer QUESTION ONE (Section 4) ‘Then answer ANY OTHER TWO questions from section B Use illustrations where appropriate NO. OF PAGES DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL YOU HAVE, BEEN TOLD TO DO SO BY THE INVIGILATOR BIDEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2009/2010 END OF SEMESTER FIVE EXAMINATION Course: BIO 307 BIOCHEMISTRY November 2009 Duration: 2 hours Answer QUESTION ONE (Section A) ‘Then answer ANY OTHER TWO questions from section B Use illustrations where appropriate SECTION A: COMPULSORY 1. Metabolism comprises anabolic and catabolic reactions, discuss how these potentially opposing metabolic activities are accomplished without much interference from each other in a cell. (25 marks) SECTION B ANSWER ANY TWO QUESTIONS from this SECTION 2. Glucose 6-phosphate and pyruvate represent major crossroads in metabolic activities in living organisms. Present a persuasive discussion to support this proposition. (25 marks) 3. Supposing you were employed in a district primary hospital as a lab scientist and a patient is brought to the hospital in a condition that makes the doctor suspect that he/she has favism. The relatives who brought the patient confirm to the octor that they have had meals containing fava beans in the Tast 4-5 hours. In addition, the same relatives also report that they have not eaten fava beans for some time but they recall the patient telling them that he/she usuaily feels unwell afier eating fava beans a) What clinical chemistry tests should be carried out to confirm or rule out the doctor's suspicion about the patient's condition (B marks) b) Explain why the clinical chemistry tesi(s) you have stated in (a) above are appropriate for the suspected condition (10 marks)c) Explain the metabolic factor(s) responsible for drug-induced haemolytic anemia observed in some individuals taking primaquine (an antimalarial drug). (12 marks) ‘Your colleague arrived at your regular biochemistry lecture with a news paper cutting bearing the message “Cancer and exercise training affect glycolysis in similar fashion”. Present a biochemically sound account to convince your colleague that such a message is true (25 marks) ‘Supposing you were a final year project student studying 2 particular enzyme from an organism that inhabits a unique habitat. While carrying out your study of the enzyme, you discovered that one of the components of your enzyme assay ‘medium inhibits your enzyme of interest in a reversible manner. How would you determine whether such inhibition is competitive or noncompetitive? (25 marks) a) A TCA cycle intermediate, a-ketoglutarate plays a central role in the catabolism of amino acids and it could potentially get depleted. Discuss mechanisms that ensure its continued supply. (8 marks) 4) Explain the major reasons why glycolysis and gluconeogenesis are described as reciprocally regulated pathways (8marks) ©) Discuss two major reasons wity the glyoxylate cycle is often described as a way of allowing net synthesis of larger carbon-containing molecules from 2-carbon molecules, (7 marks) END OF EXAM