Applied Biochemistry and Skeletal Muscle Function
EXAM 1
1. Know the gross structure and levels of organization of skeletal muscle.
2. Be able to describe what a skeletal muscle consists of and the amount of protein that is insoluble versus soluble.
3. Know the anatomy of the sarcomere.
4. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of muscle fiber arrangement (pennation vs. fusiform).
5. What are satellite cells and explain their function during muscle adaptation and regeneration after injury,
6. Know the order of the events of excitation =-contraction coupling; be able to explain it in essay form.
7. Know the steps of the cross bridge cycle and be able to describe the role of ATP, calcium, troponin, tropomyosin, actin and myosin.
8. Describe the reflex associated with the two types of muscle spindles.
9. Define the different afferent neurons associated with the muscle spindles
10. How does the stretch reflex relate to muscle tone and muscle force production regarding muscle length?
11. Understand, in detail, the key differences in the three major muscle fiber types (metabolic and physiological differences).
12. In muscle fiber typing, how is electrophoresis different than immunohistochemistry?
13. How does resistance training increase myofibrillar protein?
14. Describe, in essay form, the process of myofibrillar hypertrophy and the role of AKT/mTOR.
15. Describe, in essay form, the process of sarcoplasmic hypertrophy and the role of AMPK and the influence on PG1C-alpha, FOX-0 and NFAT.
16. Describe the role of the Renshaw cell, and differentiate between EPSPs and IPSPs.
17. Know the AMPK influence on GLUT-4, fatty acid uptake, metabolism, and
angiogenesis.
18. What is the role of the Golgi Tendon Organs? How doe they related to“myofascial release.”
19. How do all forms of muscular activity tend to cause an individual muscle fiber
to change?
20. Discuss training strategies to increase muscle mass & strength and the evidence
to support these.
21. Describe the flexor withdrawal and cross-extensor reflex.
22. Know the difference between qualitative versus quantitative changes in fiber type.
23. Sprint-type training causes a fast-slow muscle fiber type shift; sprint-type training causes a slow-fast muscle fiber type shift. How are both of these statements correct?
24. Predict the immunohistochemical differences in muscle fiber type among a couch
potato, sprinter, SCI patient, and marathon runner.
25. Explain molecular mechanisms that regulate the identity of satellite cells and
their differentiation into muscle fibers.
26. How does increased training usually influence fiber phenotype? What about
detraining, disuse, or denervation?
27. What is energy?
28. What are the first two laws of thermodynamics?
29. Be able to differentiate between exergonic and endergonic reactions and give
two, common, cellular examples of both.
30. Define oxidation and reduction.
31. Describe the relationship between photosynthesis and aerobic respiration.
32. What is the Q10 relationship related to enzyme activity and temperature?
33. What enzyme acts as an intracellular energy sensor?
34. Why is the ATP/AMP ratio the major adenine nucleotide relationship that
indicates cellular metabolism?
35. Why is maximal power sustained, typically, for less than 20 seconds?
36. Be able to show the coupled reaction performed by creatine kinase.
37. Be able to write out the TCA cycle (enzymes, substrates, and products) and the
electron transport chain (oxidative phosphorylation).
38. How many grams of glucose and glycogen exist in the typical person?
39. Be able to describe how insulin-mediated glucose uptake occurs.
40. How does glucose uptake occur in skeletal muscle during exercise when insulin
release is attenuated?
41. Know the basic steps of glycogen synthesis.
42. How are liver and muscle glycogen different?
43. Be able to write out glycolysis.
44. How many net ATPs are generated by glucose and glycogen during fast and slow
glycolysis?
45. How many ATPs can be made from lactate?
46. Where is lactate metabolized?
47. What is the difference, as described in class, between lactate threshold and
anaerobic threshold? At what intensities do they usually occur in trained
individuals?
48. Why is lactate formed and why, if lactate wasn’t produced, would fatigue occur
sooner?
49. What three substrates can be used for gluconeogenesis and where does it occur?
50. What are the enzymes that are different in gluconeogenesis from glycolysis?
51. Be able to describe, both, the glucose-alanine cycle and the Cori Cycle.
52. What is lipolysis and be able to describe the activation of hormone sensitive
lipase by epinephrine?
53. How does fat get oxidized, from the adipocyte to the muscle?
54. Be able to describe how many ATPs are generated from the oxidation of fatty
acids and explain beta oxidation.
55. How is glucose turned to fat and what type of fat is made each time?
56. Where does fatty acid synthesis occur (mainly)?
