4 MEH Flashcards
Which tissues have an absolute requirement for glucose as an energy source? (4)
- Red blood cells (no mitochondria)
- Neutrophils
- Innermost cells of kidney medulla
- Lens of the eye
Arounf which value is plasma glucose maintained?
5 mmol/L
At which concentration does confusion due to hypoglycaemia appear ?
2.8 mmol/L
At which concentration of plasma glucose does brain damage and potentially death occur?
0.6 mmol/L
to enable blood glucose to be kept at required levels, a store of glucose is required, this is called?
glycogen
Which form (appearance) does glycogen have under electron microscopy?
granules
Which 2 organs can stock glycogen?
- Liver 100g
2. Muscle 300g
What is glycogen, ie what is it amde of?
glycogen is a stocked form of glucose, it is a polymer consisting of chains of glucose residues.
- chains are organized like branches on a tree originating form a dimer of the protein glycogenin.
- glucose residues linked by a-1-4 glycosidic bonds with a1-6 glycosidic bonds forming branch point every 8-10 residues
Which element of cellulse structure explains why we can’t break it down?
Cellulose has b-1-4 glycosidic bonds and we dont have the enzymes necessary for that breakdown (our glycogen is a-1-4 glycosidic bonded).
What is glycogen synthesis called?
glycogenesis
The first reaction of glycogenesis is the same as the first reaction of…?
glycolysis:
glucose + ATP => glucose 6-phosphate
BY HEXOKINASE (glucokinase in the liver)
Does the synthesis of glycogen require energy?
yes! reactions 1 and 3
Which enzyme is responsible for the formation of branch point bonds (a-1-6 glycosidic)?
Branching enzyme forms a1-6 glycosidic bonds in glycogen synthesis
Which enzyme is responsible for the glycosidic bonds linking glucose residues in glycogenesis?
glycogen synthase
If we need glucose released from glycogen we need enzymes to break the gylcosidic bonds.
Which enzyme breaks a-1-6 glycosidic bonds?
de-branching enzyme
Which enzyme breaks a-1-4 glycosidic bonds?
glycogen phosphorylase
Is glycogenolysis the reverse of glycogenesis?
No! Because not all the reactions of glycogenesis are reversible.
Different enzymes allow for simultaneous inhibition of one pathway and stimulation of another
What function do glycogen stores serves in the muscle?
Muscle glycogen is exclusively reserved for the muscle’s own energy production.
What function do glycogen stored in the liver serve?
liver glycogen will be converted into glucose and exported to the blood compartment where is will buffer blood glucose levels.
Why can the glycogen stores of the muscle not join the blood to be used by the body?
Because muscle cells dont have glucose-6-phosphatase need to convert glucose-6P into glucose.
Which are the 2 enzymes responsible for glycogen degradation?
- Glycogen phosphorylase
2. De-branching enzyme
Which is the rate limiting enzyme of glycogen synthesis?
glycogen synthase
Which is the rate limiting enzyme of glycogen degradation?
Glycogen phosphorylase
LIVER: What effect does glucagon have on glycogen synthase?
Inhibits by phosphorylation
LIVER: What effect does glucagon have on glycogen phosphorylase?
activates by phosphorylation
What effect does insulin have on glycogen synthase?
Insulin stimulates glycogen synthase by dephosphorylation.
What effect does insulin exert on glycogen phosphorylase?
Insulin decreases glycogen phosphorylase activity by dephosphorylation.
Is glycogen synthase activated when dephosphorylated or phosphorylated?
Dephosphorylated
Is glycogen phosphorylase active when phosphorylated or dephosphorylated?
phosphorylated
In the MUSCLE, what effect does glucagon have on glycogen phosphorylase?
none! the msucle does not have receptors to glucagon, it would be useless as it can’t release glucose into the blood stream anyway.
What is the allosteric activator of MUSCLE glycogen phosphorylase? (but not the lover glycogen phosphorylase)
AMP
Glycogen storage diseases that diminish glycogen stores can lead to … (2)
- Hypoglycaemia
2. Poor exercise tolerance