Category:Biochemistry 1

You should know the MRTs very well (use flashcards), and also know what reaction is impaired in a few diseases. You can be asked questions about the smallest things, and some questions can be so vague you’re not even sure what they’re asking. You should always ask teachers to clarify questions you don’t understand. However, if you know the MRTs well, and know most of what’s written here, you should at least pass. In some topics, you might only need to know the summary. For each cofactor should you memorize 4 reactions that needs these cofactors. You are going to be asked about one or two diseases.

You are going to get a question about ATP calculation, like “What is the ATP gain of degradation of hexanoyl-CoA to O2 and H2O?”. They can ask you about degradation of fatty acids, ketone bodies or intermediates in the glycolysis or TCA. The first two are very well explained on YouTube (search for fatty acid ATP calculation, it’s different for odd-chained and even-chained fatty acids), but if you get asked about PEP for example, you have to remember the MRTs well and follow PEPs pathway to TCA and remember how many NADH, FADH2, GTP and ATP are made on the way. This question is an easy 4 points if you know how to calculate. Always remember that 1 NADH = 2.5 ATP, 1 FADH2 = 1.5 ATP and 1 GTP = 1 ATP, and write always write them on the test, or you’ll lose points! Remember that the ATP calculation is slightly different if they the question ask about a fatty acid or fatty-acyl-CoA.

They do give partial points on the exam. You can get 4 points on each question. On the MRT part, there are 7 MRTs, which can give 28 points total. You pass with 21 points or more on this part. They are not very picky about water and H+ (you might get 2 or 3 points if you forget water in some reactions. water is very important in a few reactions, but not all), but they’re very picky about everything else. Double check every hydrogen, that each carbon has 4 bindings and so on.

You pass the exam with 71 points total, including semester points. Good luck.

Flashcards: General theory, regulation (carbs), 150 MREs, vitamins.