Tagged Questions
0
votes
0answers
19 views
How do cells slowly degrade 5,5'-dibromo-4,4'-dichloro-indigo?
5,5'-dibromo-4,4'-dichloro-indigo is the product of X-gal cleavage, often used as a reporter with B-galactosidase. I've made the (unreferenced) observation that it seems as though the blue product ...
3
votes
1answer
88 views
What is the molecular basis of hangovers?
Well, most of us have experienced the wonderful feeling of the dreaded hangover. How does it work exactly? I imagine it has something to do with dehydration but what are the underlying mechanisms?
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3
votes
1answer
723 views
Does mixing alcoholic drinks really make you more drunk?
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence ("beer after wine and you'll feel fine, wine after beer will make you feel queer") that mixing alcoholic drink types leads to a stronger effect, but I can't find ...
5
votes
1answer
64 views
In which way would the yeast cell cope with the excess amount of methionine in the growth media?
I guess that when there is surplus of methionine in the cell it is incorporated in the TCA cycle as a succinyl CoA, with cysteine as a by-product. But now the cell has the surplus of cysteine. What ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
Are there any intersections between the biochemical pathways of uracil biosynthesis (or metabolism) and methionine degradation in eukaryotes?
Is there any way in which uracil biosynthesis or metabolism could help cell in degradation of toxic levels of methionine?
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Why can't the brain and red blood cells use fuels other than glucose?
The question is rather straight forward: I have always been curious as to why, but cannot find an explanation online.
I can imagine that the mechanism is different for each, but why does brain tissue ...
14
votes
2answers
879 views
Why is glucose our primary source of energy?
Is there any evolutionary reason for glucose being the "main" molecule used as a source of energy, beginning with glycolysis and subsequently cellular respiration (after being converted to two ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Negative feedback in the fructose metabolism in liver
What happens in liver when large amount of fructose is consumed?
I vaguely remember my biochemistry lecturer telling us that the enzymes that process fructose in the liver does not have negative ...
7
votes
1answer
92 views
How Antioxidants affects Human Metabolism?
I'd like to know how antioxidants affects the human metabolism and which ones are essential for metabolism processes.
11
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3answers
408 views
What happens to dextrorotatory amino acids in humans?
As indicated by this question, most of the amino acids in the human body have the L-chirality. As enzymes also have handedness, what happens to the D-amino acids that end up within the human body? Are ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views
What is a coupled reaction and why do cells couple reactions?
I was wondering what exactly a coupled reaction is and why cells couple them. I read the wikipedia article as well as several others, such as life.illinois.edu but I still don't get it. Could ...
7
votes
2answers
115 views
During famine, does the human body do anything to prioritize which organs receive nutrients?
When food is scarce, the body slows its metabolism. Are there any other systems or processes that encourage prioritization of organs?
8
votes
1answer
130 views
What are the biochemical processes occurring when food spoils?
Let's assume for a minute that microbes themselves and their direct toxic products (i.e. endotoxins) aren't toxic to humans. Let's also discount any innate immune responses the body mounts against the ...
16
votes
1answer
339 views
ATP cost for gene expression
How would you estimate the number of ATPs required to transcribe, export and translate a single eukariotic protein?
7
votes
2answers
158 views
Can a living organism run on electricity?
Each time I'm too lazy too cook I think it'd be cool to be able to just plug myselt into an outlet. Yet I know it is not possible - I need amino acids and a lot of other stuff that electricity can't ...
