MAJOR

METABOLIC
PATHWAYS
METABOLISM is the
collection of enzyme
catalyzed reactions that
converts substrates that are
external to the cell into
various products.

METABOLIC PATHWAYS
are series of chemical
reaction occuring in the cell.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
allows for the alteration of
metabolism by insertion or
deletion of selected genes.

In BIOPROCESS
ENGINEERING an
understanding of metabolic
pathways in organism of interest
is of primary importance.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF METABOLISM
1. Varies from organism to organism
2. Many common characteristics
3. Affected by environmental conditions
a) O2 availability: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Aerobic growth on glucose = more yeast cell
Anaerobic growth on glucose = ethanol
b) Control of metabolism is important in bioprocess
 TYPES OF METABOLISM
1. CATABOLISM
metabolic reactions in the cell that degrade a
substrate into smaller/simpler products.

2. ANABOLISM
metabolic reactions that result in the synthesis
of larger/ more complex molecules
3. AMPHIBOLIC
acting as links between anabolic and metabolic
 METABOLIC PATHWAYS
1. GLYCOLYSIS
- breaks down glucose and forms pyruvate with the
production of two molecules ATP.
2. CITRIC ACID CYCLE/KREB'S CYCLE/
TRICARBOXYLIC ACID (TCA)
-oxidises glucose derivatives, fatty acids and amino
acids to CO2 through a series of enzyme controlled
steps
3. OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION
-cells use enzymes to oxidize nutrients, thereby
releasing energy which is used to ATP.
4. PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY/
PHOSPHOGLUCONATE PATHWAY
- is an alternative pathway to glycolysis and TCA
cycle for oxidation of glucose.
5. UREA CYCLE
- primary biochemical pathway in humans by which
excess nitrogen is disposed.
6. FATTY ACID β-OXIDATION
-fatty acids breakdown into acetyl-CoA to be used i
in Kreb's Cycle