CHM 432
Study guide for exam 2
Chapter 6. Enzymes
1. Understand the energy diagram of enzyme catalysis.
2. Be able to identify the type of catalysis mechanism (acid/base, covalent, or metal) of enzymes by
looking at the reactions they catalyze and or the catalytic amino acid residue.
3. Be familiar with the mechanisms used in example enzymes: Chymotrypsin, Lysozyme, and RNase A
4. Be able to identify the intermediates in Chymotrypsin mechanism and connect their energy states in
a diagram.
5. Remember the key structures of transition states in the example enzymatic reactions – the most
effective inhibitor (=transition state analogs) will have similar structures.
6. What are the mechanisms used in chymotrypsin for transition state stabilization?
7. Enzyme kinetics, Inhibition, and control
1. Know the different orders of reactions in an enzymatic reaction and the units of rate constants.
2. Different graphs in enzymatic reaction (Progress curves/ M-M curve/ Lineweaver Burk plot).
3. Assumptions that we considered for Michaelis Menten equation –and interpretation of the
graph.
4. Vmax and Km using data (M-M equation, or Lineweaver-Burk equation may not be given, but
will provide necessary data/graphs). Know the units of these values clearly.
5. Understanding the meaning of Vmax and Km (comparing the efficiency of enzymes)
Calculation/meaning/ and unit of kcat.
6. Determination of inhibitor type according to its kinetic data.
7. Identifying bi-substrate enzyme mechanism according to the description of enzyme reactions.
Carbohydrates, Lipids and Biological membranes
1. Be able to determine, D/L sugar, number of epimers of typical carbohydrate molecules.
2. Understand the formation of hemiketal/hemiacetal rings, and determination of anomeric
carbon – α or β form – and reducing or non-reducing sugar.
3. Be able to determine the glycosidic bond configuration, when structures are given
4. Nomenclature of fatty acids.
5. Relationship between the melting points of fatty acids of different degree of unsaturation (and
carbon length), and their effects on the flexibility of the membranes.
6. Be able to differentiate the structures of major components of biological membranes.
7. Transmembrane transport molecules –be able to differentiate active/passive transport.
Chapter 13: Bioenergetics and Biochemical Reaction Types:
1. Know how to couple reactions to calculate the net G’ of the combined reaction (especially
using the Table of the phosphoryl compounds). (review of chapter 1)
2. Know the differences between G and G’. (review of chapter 1)
3. Energy currency compounds – what features of these molecules make them as “high energy
compounds”?
4. Know the big picture – what kind of changes happen as the carbons of glucose (6C) go through
glycolysis/citric acid cycle/ oxidative phosphorylation.
Did I also mention….
1. Practice with end-of chapter problems (assigned ones only).
2. Practice with Sapling HW problems (there are “practice sets” for each HW)
3. Use the in-class quiz (keys are posted) and homework as a guide – to make your own problems
sets and practice.
4. Make your own tables/notes.
5. Actually making this study guide gave me so many new ideas for exam questions –you should try
this (making your own study guides) 