Metabolism and Regulation

Homeostasis is the steady state of equilibrium. Similarly, in biochemistry, energy homeostasis is the balance point between energy supplied and energy dissipated (i.e., a constant energy state) that the human body seeks to maintain for optimal performance. The hypothalamus plays a central role in regulating energy homeostasis. Inefficient energy homeostasis is thought to be a major factor in the obesity epidemic. Many models have been proposed to explain and further understand the mechanism of energy homeostasis.

Enzyme kinetics describes the sequence of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with a dependence on various parameters such as temperature, pH, and substrate concentration. The reaction rate is measured and the effects of varying the conditions of the reaction are investigated.

Translation is the process of synthesizing a protein from a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. This process is divided into three primary stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. Translation is catalyzed by structures known as ribosomes, which are large complexes of proteins and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The ribosome “reads” the mRNA, and brings in transfer RNAs (tRNAs), each bound to a specific amino acid, in the correct order. These amino acids are then bound to one another by an enzymatic component of the ribosome known as peptidyl transferase. Translation can be regulated at multiple steps, including through a process known as RNA interference. This process involves small segments of double-stranded RNA which are able to inhibit translation of mRNAs.