100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached 4.6 TrustPilot
logo-home
Exam (elaborations)

MCAT Metabolic Pathways — Biochemistry Study Guide for MCAT Preparation

Rating
-
Sold
-
Pages
6
Grade
A+
Uploaded on
08-01-2026
Written in
2025/2026

This document provides a focused overview of the key metabolic pathways tested on the MCAT, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and related regulatory mechanisms. It is designed to help students understand pathway integration, enzyme regulation, and high-yield biochemistry concepts essential for MCAT success.

Show more Read less
Institution
MCAT
Course
MCAT









Whoops! We can’t load your doc right now. Try again or contact support.

Written for

Institution
MCAT
Course
MCAT

Document information

Uploaded on
January 8, 2026
Number of pages
6
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Exam (elaborations)
Contains
Questions & answers

Subjects

Content preview

MCAT Metabolic Pathways
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8ltbtv

1. What are the aerobic and anaerobic functions of glycolysis? Where does it
occur?: Aerobic: To convert glucose to pyruvate and ATP. Pyruvate can be burned for energy (TCA) or converted to
fat (fatty acid synthesis).

Anaerobic: ATP production. Recycle NADH by making lactate.

Occurs in the cytoplasm of all living cells
2. Glycolysis regulation (signals): Primary signals:
- Insulin turns on
- Glucagon turns off
- Epinephrine turns on in muscle, off in liver
- Phosphorylation turns off in liver, on in muscles

Secondary signals:
- activated by low ATP and
Fructose 2,6-P
- inhibited by low glucose and high ATP
3. What are the major glycolysis connections?: - Glucose in, pyruvate or lactate out.
- Glucose 6-phosphate to glycogen (reversible).
- Glucose 6-phosphate to pentose phosphates (not reversible).
- Pyruvate to TCA via acetyl-CoA (not reversible).
- Pyruvate to fat via acetyl-CoA (not reversible).
4. Glycolysis Equation and ATP Yields (anaerobic): Fermentation: Partial oxidation of metabolite
(glucose) to pyruvate

Glucose 2ADP 2Pᵢ ’2ATP 2 lactate
(no NAD⁺)

Yield:
1 glucose ’2ATP 2 lactate
5. Fermentation: Purpose: regenerate NAD⁺ for glycolysis. 1 NAD⁺ is net for every pyruvate in a oxidation-re-
duction reaction: reduce pyruvate, oxidize NADH

1/6

, MCAT Metabolic Pathways
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8ltbtv

- 2 net ATP per glucose
- Pyruvate reduced to either alcohol (bacteria) or lactate (humans)
6. Glycolysis Equation and ATP Yields (aerobic): Glucose 2ADP 2Pᵢ 2NAD⁺ ’2 pyruvate 2ATP
2NADH 2H⁺

Yield:
1 glucose ’2ATP 2NADH 2 pyruvate
7. Glycolysis steps: "Goodness Gracious, Fred's Father Did Go By Picking Pumpkins (to) PrEPare Pies"

Glucose
Glucose-6-P
Fructose-6-P
Fructose-1,6-diP
Dihydroxyacetone-P
Glyceraldehyde-P
1,3- Biphosphoglycerate
3-Phosphoglycerate
2-Phosphoglycerate (to)
Phosphoenolpyruvate [PEP]
Pyruvate

Did = Dihydroxyacetone phosphate
By = 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate
PrEPare = PEP (phosphoenolpyruvate)
Pie = Pyruvate

'Did', 'By' and 'Pies' tell you the first part of those three: di-, bi-, and py-. 'PrEPare' tells location of PEP in the process.
8. Glycolysis pathway mnemonic: Gross Guys Fμck Big Boobs but Generous and Dreamy Boys Prefer
Pretty, Poised Petite Ladies


10 steps:
Glucose
2/6

Get to know the seller

Seller avatar
Reputation scores are based on the amount of documents a seller has sold for a fee and the reviews they have received for those documents. There are three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The better the reputation, the more your can rely on the quality of the sellers work.
Lectbrahim Howard Community College
View profile
Follow You need to be logged in order to follow users or courses
Sold
135
Member since
1 year
Number of followers
3
Documents
1879
Last sold
2 days ago
BRAHIM STUDY SELLER

Welcome All to this page. Here you will find ; ALL DOCUMENTS, PACKAGE DEALS, FLASHCARDS AND 100% REVISED & CORRECT STUDY MATERIALS GUARANTEED A+. NB: ALWAYS WRITE A GOOD REVIEW WHEN YOU BUY MY DOCUMENTS. ALSO, REFER YOUR COLLEGUES TO MY DOCUMENTS. ( Refer 3 and get 1 free document). I AM AVAILABLE TO SERVE YOU AT ANY TIME. WISHING YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR STUDIES. THANK YOU.

3.4

28 reviews

5
12
4
5
3
2
2
1
1
8

Recently viewed by you

Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their tests and reviewed by others who've used these notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No worries! You can instantly pick a different document that better fits what you're looking for.

Pay as you like, start learning right away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and aced it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Frequently asked questions