Advanced Biology

1. Enzymes (30pts).

Embryonic liver tissue contains an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction S→P. Adult liver also displays S→P

activity. Some kinetic data are shown below.

a) (20pts) What conclusion can you draw concerning the identity of the two enzymes?

What is the same or different about them and why might that be. (show all work for full credit)

 

During sever liver damage an enzyme (E1 from above) is released into the blood stream. After severe

exercise a muscle enzyme, Es that catalyzes the same reaction is released into the bloodstream.

Ei and Es can be differentiated easily because they have different Km values The Km of the muscle enzyme

is 2×10-5 M. An assay of the blood sample of a patient gave the results bellow

 

b) (10pts) Is the patient suffering from liver disease or have the simply been exercising two

strenuously, explain your answer (with any plots used for full credit)

 

 

 

 

2. Cell Metabolism (70pts). (refer to the tables at the end of the test to find values for the specific bacteria)

Aerobacter aerogenes is to be cultured aerobically, with glucose (C6H12O6) or pyruvate

(C3H4O3) as the growth substrate. Use the tables below to answer the following questions.

a. Setup (10pts): i) (3pts)Write the general Equation for Biosynthesis

 

 

ii) (3pts) What is the Empirical biomass formula of this species and what is its molecular weight?

 

 

iii) (4pts) What is the biomass degree of reductance of the biomass?

 

b) (15pts) Calculate the biomass yield per mole of glucose (you will need an empirical equation other than YX/S to do so). Show your work for full credit.

 

c) (15pts) Calculate the biomass yield per mole of pyruvate (you will need an empirical equation other than YX/S to do so). Show your work for full credit.

 

 

d) (30pts) i) (10pts)Compare the actual biomass yields per mole glucose or pyruvate to their

respective maximum theoretical yields.

 

ii) (5pts) Which growth substrate is more efficient with respect to biosynthesis?

iii) (10pts) Give two brief explanations why the answer to part a makes sense (or, make an educated guess as to which substrate is more efficient and justify your

answer).

iv) (5pts) Considering the case of growth on glucose, evaluate whether or not one can

expect significant amounts of secreted product(s), why?.