Biochem on MCAT - Know Structures?

[queenoftheclouds]

I've memorized all the structures of the amino acids (R groups, polarity, acid/base, etc.) but was wondering how indepth we needed to know the biochemical pathways. I know the reactants, intermediates, products, and enzymes - but do we need to know the structures for all of these? I've taken an Intro Biochem course where we were required to know everything including structures, but it's been a while and I've since forgotten those...

It would save a lot of time if structures for pathways aren't required. Can anyone provide some insight into this? I just want to make sure I don't place emphasis on the wrong things and waste a lot of time.

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[carpediem22]

I highly, highly doubt it (other than amino acids and maybe the purines/pyrimidines). I doubt we even need to memorize the pathways as in depth as you have. Having a 'big picture' understanding of the pathways and knowing the role of the key players (e.g. hexokinase, PFK, pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, etc.) will probably be what they will test. I.e. knowing how changing one element will affect other elements, how metabolism is regulated, the bioenergetics of major steps -- which is very different from rote memorization of the pathways.

Even in my biochemistry class we didn't have to memorize entire pathways, with the exception of glycolysis. Yet the tests were arguably more challenging because we had to really and truly understand them.

 

[RaspberrySlushy]

I agree with @carpediem22 and my biochem class was the same. We focused a lot on principles and chemical logic and reasoning. And this did make the tests harder for sure. But it does seem that the focus of the new MCAT is more on applying principles and scientific reasoning than memorizing.

From taking the sample test this seems to be true. Memorizing metabolic pathways didn't seem to be as useful as understanding what rxns happen and why. However, I haven't taken the real thing so I can't be sure. Probably the best indication will be in the outline.

 

[Sam93]

I've memorized all the structures of the amino acids (R groups, polarity, acid/base, etc.) but was wondering how indepth we needed to know the biochemical pathways. I know the reactants, intermediates, products, and enzymes - but do we need to know the structures for all of these? I've taken an Intro Biochem course where we were required to know everything including structures, but it's been a while and I've since forgotten those...

It would save a lot of time if structures for pathways aren't required. Can anyone provide some insight into this? I just want to make sure I don't place emphasis on the wrong things and waste a lot of time.

You absolutely need to be able to recognize the structures of metabolic intermediates if you see them.