Explain the application of coupling reactions in predicting the feasibility of biochemical reactions
Answers
Living systems coupled reactions in several ways, but the most common method of coupling reactions is to carry out both reactions on the same enzyme. Glycerol is phosphorylated by the enzyme glycerol kinase, which is found in your liver. The product of glycerol phosphorylation, glycerol-3-phosphate, is used in the synthesis of phospholipids.
In order to conserve energy, a change in state of the system must be coupled to a change in the surroundings which increases the work potential of a part of the surroundings (work is performed on the surroundings, or a separate system undergoes a change in state with +DG). In the context of biological energy conservation, this means that the work potential (as represented by the –DG) for a biochemical reaction will be lost unless the reaction occurs in concert with (is coupling reaction to) another reaction which has a +DG.