Learning Strategies in Biochemistry:
Glycolysis and Monosaccharide Metabolism

Revised 2008/05/22

Essential Review:

From organic chemistry, review these concepts, usually found in chapters on aldehydes and ketones:

• Keto-enol tautomerism.
• Oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids.
• Synthesis and reactions of acetals and hemiacetals.
• The aldol condensation.
• Formation and hydrolysis of imines, and Schiff-base chemistry.

Also review dehydration of alcohols to produce alkenes.

Essential Memory Work:

Using the glycolysis pathway chart in your text or the handout provided, memorize the following:

• Complete structures and names of all metabolites (metabolic intermediates) in the glycolytic pathway, including their stereochemistry if they are chiral. (Note the distinction between metabolic intermediates [the reactants and products of a metabolic pathway] and chemical intermediates [the short-lived species on the path from reactants to products in a single chemical reaction.])
• Names of all enzymes.
• Points of use or production of ATP, ADP, Pi, and all cofactors (NAD, FAD, TPP, and so forth).

Quiz (Beginning of First Class on Glycolysis)

On the blank paper provided, draw a chart of glycolysis, including all the details listed in Essential Memory Work, above. 10 minutes.

Pathway Information Provided on Exams

Memorizing pathways is primarily an aid to learning more about them. Questions on exams will be on a higher level than mere memory work. On exams that cover topics in metabolism, your instructor will provide pathways charts of any pathways you need in order to answer exam questions. So there is no need to come to exams prepared to regurgitate pathways. Instead, come prepared to use your experience with pathways -- gained by memory work, reading, and problem solving -- to answer questions, interpret data, and solve problems about them.

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