biochemistry question

[Pure Anergy]

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Hi, I am hoping that one of you who already took the test could tell me how important it is to know all the enzymes from biochemical pathways, like rate limiting steps and that kind of stuff. I am kind of frustrated because some of them are different in different sources, like Lippincott biochem says that PEP carboxykinase is the rate limiting step for gluconeogenesis and Rapid Review biochem says it's fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase. I've pretty much decided to believe Goljan on this but do I really need to know all these rate limiting enzymes when even the stupid books can't agree on what they are?

 

[osli]

I'd say rate limiting steps for most pathways (along with what would accumulate and what would be deficient if blocked) are probably high yield. I'd expect that plus named pathologies from enzyme deficiencies to make up the bulk of the biochem questions, but since I haven't taken it yet I'm just guessing. 😉

The fact that you know what two sources say and realize they disagree is probably as good as you can do. Hopefully if you actually get a question about that there will be some clue in the stem that helps direct you to one or the other.

 

[Helo]

This was my philosophy (don't know how well it worked since I'll get my score back in July)...if there was a discrepancy of a "fact" I stuck with FA (of course, check the errata), since I was more certain that it has gone through many more revisions and is basically a fact driven book anyway. When I look at a question, I try to be as flexible as possible while reading the stem and perusing the answer choices. Some questions contain slightly new info that may change your memorized answer (I saw this in an NBME biochem ?, and microbio is full of these little surprises) and it's important to keep that flexibility while you answer questions. Either way, good luck!!!

 

[Pure Anergy]

Yeah, that was the most annoying part, First Aid had a third enzyme as rate-limiting (pyruvate carboxylase) but then the errata said they meant to put fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase. So that's why I decided that was probably right. God, it's not like I want to be a biochemist or something, but I wish they'd all get together and figure it out before making us memorize it. Thanks for your help, good luck to both of you too.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Hi, I am hoping that one of you who already took the test could tell me how important it is to know all the enzymes from biochemical pathways, like rate limiting steps and that kind of stuff. I am kind of frustrated because some of them are different in different sources, like Lippincott biochem says that PEP carboxykinase is the rate limiting step for gluconeogenesis and Rapid Review biochem says it's fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase. I've pretty much decided to believe Goljan on this but do I really need to know all these rate limiting enzymes when even the stupid books can't agree on what they are?

Highly important. Stick to your basics though. Know what insulin does, what builds up in urine if you have some dz, what enzymes someone is missing if they have another dz... If there is some sort of confusion between two major sources (as in RR vs Lippincott) then do you really think they are going to ask about that enzyme in that regard?