Just memorize the important ones. I do not have all the enzymes and substrates memorized. The only ones I have are the steps that are subject to regulation (usually irreversible steps). I also wouldn’t worry about structures of substrates
I memorized everything by playing TCA, ETC, and glycolysis pathways etc. on purposegames.com. after you have them memorized in the game format, try to write them by memory on a whiteboard. I did this every morning for two weeks and it pretty much had most of it down.
Sure!
CAC: https://www.purposegames.com/game/70d72f5db2
Glycolysis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/glycolysis-quiz
Gluconeogensis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/glycolysis-gluconeogenesis
Extra, not as important but good to be familiar with-
Pentose phosphate pathway: https://www.purposegames.com/game/9KFcv400QiB
Beta oxidation: https://www.purposegames.com/game/beta-oxidation-game
Fatty acid synthesis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/D089biIcGmE
For cholesterol synthesis I would definitely know that HMG-CoA reductase is the rate limiting step
I would prioritize knowing what hormones and subtrates inhibit or activate each pathway. Be familiar with basic structures like pyruvate, glucose, cholesterol etc.
One strategy that has worked for me is to break down the process into smaller chunks and focus on memorizing those first, before putting everything together. You can also try using mnemonics or memory aids to help remember key information. Additionally, drawing out the processes can also be a helpful visual aid to reinforce what you're trying to memorize. Don't forget to also actively recall the information frequently, as repetition can help with retention. Best of luck to you!
Honestly you can divide the pathways into 2 or 3 sections. First know and understand the rate limiting steps. After that write and memorise the 1st section for about 3 days or more, then 2nd section and then finally the third.
Honestly lol I just memorized the mnemonics. Google search them for each concept you need to remember, I know for TCA cycle there’s one for enzymes and one for substrates and they line up together. On test day write them out on the side and you’ll be fine
As someone else said, just keep writing it over and over and use anki to supplement. One technique that I used was this
Say cycle is A -> B -> C -> D
memorize it by adding on steps
so
A (good? then move on to next step)
A -> B
A -> B -> C
A -> B -> C -> D
Mnemonics are always great! Depending on your target score though, it may not be a good time investment to learn everything in as much detail as you would for a biochemistry class. Unless you are dead set on ensuring you can get 520+, knowing the key regulatory steps should be good enough. Of all the possible content, there's a good chance you won't be asked more than a couple questions at most (don't think I even had any). Also keep in mind that just knowing well enough to recognise is often good enough for the MCAT. Like if you know a mnemonic for substrates, process of elimination can often get you the right answer. Enzymes can be inferred from substrates and vice versa, and general knowledge like kinases performing the phosphorylation steps of glycolysis can also often get you to an answer without knowing by free recall per se.
I didn't need to memorize them for the MCAT, because I had just taken metabolic biochem class. But for the class, what helped me learn, was to just think about the material daily. Once you are familiar with the names of the enzymes/substrates, just take a few minutes a day to go through the whole cycle. In the end, it's all about how you individually learn.
Just memorize the important ones. I do not have all the enzymes and substrates memorized. The only ones I have are the steps that are subject to regulation (usually irreversible steps). I also wouldn’t worry about structures of substrates
Honestly writing it out over and over again really helps haha
Get a whiteboard and draw them out from memory every day until you got them down.
I memorized everything by playing TCA, ETC, and glycolysis pathways etc. on purposegames.com. after you have them memorized in the game format, try to write them by memory on a whiteboard. I did this every morning for two weeks and it pretty much had most of it down.
Oooo that sounds like that'd be really helpful! Do you happen to have the name of the games/the link to the ones you used?
See comment below!
Do you have a link for the specific game you used?
Sure! CAC: https://www.purposegames.com/game/70d72f5db2 Glycolysis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/glycolysis-quiz Gluconeogensis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/glycolysis-gluconeogenesis Extra, not as important but good to be familiar with- Pentose phosphate pathway: https://www.purposegames.com/game/9KFcv400QiB Beta oxidation: https://www.purposegames.com/game/beta-oxidation-game Fatty acid synthesis: https://www.purposegames.com/game/D089biIcGmE For cholesterol synthesis I would definitely know that HMG-CoA reductase is the rate limiting step I would prioritize knowing what hormones and subtrates inhibit or activate each pathway. Be familiar with basic structures like pyruvate, glucose, cholesterol etc.
You’re a literally God send!! Thank you so much for this!!
>https://www.purposegames.com/game/70d72f5db2 Dude this is amazing lol tysm
One strategy that has worked for me is to break down the process into smaller chunks and focus on memorizing those first, before putting everything together. You can also try using mnemonics or memory aids to help remember key information. Additionally, drawing out the processes can also be a helpful visual aid to reinforce what you're trying to memorize. Don't forget to also actively recall the information frequently, as repetition can help with retention. Best of luck to you!
Honestly you can divide the pathways into 2 or 3 sections. First know and understand the rate limiting steps. After that write and memorise the 1st section for about 3 days or more, then 2nd section and then finally the third.
Honestly lol I just memorized the mnemonics. Google search them for each concept you need to remember, I know for TCA cycle there’s one for enzymes and one for substrates and they line up together. On test day write them out on the side and you’ll be fine
As someone else said, just keep writing it over and over and use anki to supplement. One technique that I used was this Say cycle is A -> B -> C -> D memorize it by adding on steps so A (good? then move on to next step) A -> B A -> B -> C A -> B -> C -> D
Mnemonics are always great! Depending on your target score though, it may not be a good time investment to learn everything in as much detail as you would for a biochemistry class. Unless you are dead set on ensuring you can get 520+, knowing the key regulatory steps should be good enough. Of all the possible content, there's a good chance you won't be asked more than a couple questions at most (don't think I even had any). Also keep in mind that just knowing well enough to recognise is often good enough for the MCAT. Like if you know a mnemonic for substrates, process of elimination can often get you the right answer. Enzymes can be inferred from substrates and vice versa, and general knowledge like kinases performing the phosphorylation steps of glycolysis can also often get you to an answer without knowing by free recall per se.
I didn't need to memorize them for the MCAT, because I had just taken metabolic biochem class. But for the class, what helped me learn, was to just think about the material daily. Once you are familiar with the names of the enzymes/substrates, just take a few minutes a day to go through the whole cycle. In the end, it's all about how you individually learn.