Great metabolic race essay
The Great Metabolic Race
Organisms are constantly undergoing various chemical reactions and pathways that enable for them to maintain life. These pathways are part of metabolism, involving catabolism (break down of organic nutrients for extraction of useful) and anabolism (energy dependent conversion of small precursor molecules in complex molecules); some of which are energy coupled to provide energy efficiency. This intermediate coupling is due to the “energy currency” within the body, known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). These metabolic pathways are reliant on certain energies of reactions; according to Gibbs’ free energy (ΔG), referring to the change in usable energy available for a reaction. Many of these cellular pathways involve ΔG, where if ΔG < 0 it is an exergonic reaction, and if ΔG > 0 then it is an endergonic reaction. We are able to observe these various metabolic pathways within the body of an athlete as they perform a 1 hour race.
At the very start of the race, muscles in the body are used profusely and the athlete will undergo anaerobic pathways of energy. Therefore at the beginning of the race, in order to attain a large amount of ATP or energy in the most efficient way, the body perform lipid catabolism via the beta-oxidation pathway. Fats are used as the body does not require energy to be released rapidly until the point when the athlete achieves a relatively stable “metabolic pace.” The production of ATP is quicker from glucose than from fatty acids though, from anaerobic respiration.
By 5 minutes once the athlete gets settled into a steady pace, aerobic pathways begin to take over. This aerobic pathway involves the catabolism of glucose, as a fuel. Reliance on glucose is due to the ability to produce a lot of energy in a relatively short time span. The glucose stores in the body of the athlete are located mainly in the liver and muscles; the liver which acts to regulate blood glucose, and muscles for the excess work that is performed which
Organisms are constantly undergoing various chemical reactions and pathways that enable for them to maintain life. These pathways are part of metabolism, involving catabolism (break down of organic nutrients for extraction of useful) and anabolism (energy dependent conversion of small precursor molecules in complex molecules); some of which are energy coupled to provide energy efficiency. This intermediate coupling is due to the “energy currency” within the body, known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). These metabolic pathways are reliant on certain energies of reactions; according to Gibbs’ free energy (ΔG), referring to the change in usable energy available for a reaction. Many of these cellular pathways involve ΔG, where if ΔG < 0 it is an exergonic reaction, and if ΔG > 0 then it is an endergonic reaction. We are able to observe these various metabolic pathways within the body of an athlete as they perform a 1 hour race.
At the very start of the race, muscles in the body are used profusely and the athlete will undergo anaerobic pathways of energy. Therefore at the beginning of the race, in order to attain a large amount of ATP or energy in the most efficient way, the body perform lipid catabolism via the beta-oxidation pathway. Fats are used as the body does not require energy to be released rapidly until the point when the athlete achieves a relatively stable “metabolic pace.” The production of ATP is quicker from glucose than from fatty acids though, from anaerobic respiration.
By 5 minutes once the athlete gets settled into a steady pace, aerobic pathways begin to take over. This aerobic pathway involves the catabolism of glucose, as a fuel. Reliance on glucose is due to the ability to produce a lot of energy in a relatively short time span. The glucose stores in the body of the athlete are located mainly in the liver and muscles; the liver which acts to regulate blood glucose, and muscles for the excess work that is performed which