Glycolysis (how much to know)

[yestomeds]

Hey, so with biochem being ramped up, I wanted to know how to adjust my studying. Currently doing content review on glycolysis, the electron transport chain, and so on.

I don't have any new books (yet, I guess). I'm using TBR atm.
Anyway, I'd like to ask specific questions regarding the necessity of details required:

So, after phosphofructosekinase has catalyzed the formation of P-6-C-P, P-6-C-P then undergoes a series of changes (4 ATPs made, 2 NAD+s reduced to 2NADHs, etc.) to make 2 pyruvates.

Should we know glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.

How about that it is C1 and C2 that are affected when isomerizing to fructose?

And should we know a reaction involving reverse alcohol condensation occurring.

And how about an intermediate compound, phosophoenolpyruvate being the last thing before pyruvate kinase finally makes pyruvate?​

Thanks guys.

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[ChrisMack390]

I'd say know it backwards and forwards. There WILL be questions, and honestly its not that complicated that it is unmanageable to learn before test day.

 

[yestomeds]

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[yestomeds]

Ok, thanks for the advice. What I'm asking about is, the old (2014) TPR or Kaplan books didn't discuss the above 4 specific things (as examples), whereas the old TBR did. The AAMC list doesn't seem to list these above details (see above) - so are details like the above important/necessary?

Looking for guidance. 🙁🙄

 

[ChrisMack390]

The main piece of feedback I have heard on the new test is that you can't over study biochemistry.

 

[basophilic]

Safer to know everything about it; if you haven't had it in a course, read a textbook to get it down; otherwise, watch the khan academy videos
when you read, categorize the transformations/mechanisms into broader groups - you'll soon find all these huge number of complicated steps boil down to very few core concepts; e.g. decarboxylations generally involve TPP, carboxylation involve biotin, substrate-level phosphorylation involve Ser/Cys active site residues to form covalent intermediates, isomerizations involve either enediol intermediates or phosphohistidines, etc.
also, goes without saying to make your own overall metabolic map