4b. Biochemistry - ATP production Flashcards
(96 cards)
1
Q
What does ATP stand for?
A
Adenosine triphosphate
2
Q
What is ATP?
A
The energy currency of the body
(the body has to make it before it can use it)
Captures energy released by reactions in the body
3
Q
How is ATP structured?
A
3 phosphate groups
4
Q
Where is the captured energy stored?
A
In high energy oxygen-phosphate bonds
5
Q
What happens when water is added to ATP?
A
One phosphate group is removed, releasing energy via hydrolysis reaction
6
Q
Which mineral is always present in ATP?
A
Magnesium
7
Q
What function does magnesium play in ATP?
A
Binds to phosphate groups
Holds the molecule in a slightly curved shape that aids the loss of phosphate - releasing energy
8
Q
Why does ATP need magnesium?
A
Without it, ATP isn’t biologically active so it’s difficult to release energy
9
Q
What is a symptom of magnesium deficiency?
A
Low energy
10
Q
In which foods can magnesium be found?
A
Avocado
Green veg
Nuts
Seeds
11
Q
What are the functions of ATP?
A
Capture energy Drive body reactions Fuel movement Transport substances across membranes (active transport) Cell division
12
Q
What is the function of energy carriers in ATP production?
A
Temporarily capture the energy released so it can be converted into ATP later
13
Q
What are the two main energy carriers?
A
NAD
FAD
14
Q
Which minerals and amino acids are needed to make NAD?
A
Vit B3
Aspartic acid
Tryptophan
15
Q
What does NAD become once it’s trapped energy?
A
NADH
traps a hydrogen
16
Q
Which vitamin is needed to make FAD?
A
Vit B2
17
Q
What does FAD become once it’s trapped energy?
A
FADH2
traps 2x hydrogen
18
Q
How do NAD and FAD trap energy?
A
They sweep in and steal electrons and a hydrogen (or two) from glucose (or fats)
19
Q
What is the process of getting ATP from carbohydrates called?
A
Cellular respiration
20
Q
What are the steps involved in cellular respiration?
A
- Glycolysis
- Formation of Acetyl CoA
- Krebs cycle
- Electron transport chain
21
Q
What happens during glycolysis?
A
Glucose is split into 2 pyruvates
22
Q
Where does glycolysis occur?
A
In the cytosol
23
Q
What energy is trapped during glycolysis?
A
4 ATP (-2 for the production) 2 NADH
24
Q
Which micronutrients are needed for glycolysis?
A
Magnesium
Vit B3
25
Does glycolysis require O2?
No
26
What happens during glycolysis if O2 is present?
NADH is recycled in the electron transport chain and turned into ATP
27
What happens during glycolysis if O2 isn't present?
NADH can't be recycled but reacts with pyruvate, turning it into lactic acid
(fermentation)
28
How is Acetyl CoA formed?
Pyruvates enter the mitochondria inner wall
29
What is essential to help the pyruvates enter the mitochondria?
Vit B5
| carrier molecule
30
Which nutrients are needed to help the pyruvate lose a carbon molecule?
Vit B1
| Lipoic acid
31
How many carbons are in Acetyl CoA?
2
32
What energy is trapped during the process of making Acetyl CoA?
2 NADH
33
What is the Krebs Cycle?
Series of reactions where Acetyl CoA is modified by enzymes to release as much energy as possible
34
What is the Krebs Cycle also known as?
Citric Acid Cycle
35
Where does the Krebs Cycle occur?
In the mitochondrial matrix
36
Which nutrients are required for the Krebs Cycle to happen?
Magnesium
Manganese
Iron
Vits B1, B2, B3
37
What can block the enzymes during the Krebs Cycle?
Heavy metals - aluminium, mercury
38
How much energy is made during the Krebs Cycle?
2 ATP
6 NADH
2 FADH2
39
What happens during the electron transport chain?
Energy trapped in the NADH and FADH2 are turned into ATP with the help of 4x enzyme complexes
40
What is essential for the electron transport chain to happen?
O2
41
What makes up the complex 1 co-factor?
Iron
| Sulphur
42
What makes up the complex 2 co-factor?
CoQ10
43
What makes up the complex 3 co-factor?
Iron
44
What makes up the complex 4 co-factor?
Copper
45
Where is CoQ10 stored?
In the mitochondria
46
What can deplete CoQ10 levels?
Statins
47
What functions does CoQ10 have?
```
Antioxidant
(reduces free radical damage)
Co-factor for complex 2 in the electron transport chain
Slows down ageing
Inhibits arterial LDL oxidation
```
48
Examples of food sources for CoQ10
```
Meat
Poultry
Fish
Nuts
Sesame seeds
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Oranges
Strawberries
```
49
What can cause hypoxia?
```
Pollution
Stress
Lack of exercise
Smoking
Obesity
```
50
How can patients be better at oxygenating their bodies?
```
Exercise regularly (3-5 times a week)
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
Get outdoors
Optimise dietary iron intake
Improve desk posture
```
51
What can damage the mitochondria?
Free radicals
Alcohol
Medical drugs
Environmental toxins
52
How do medical drugs and alcohol damage mitochondria?
They increase free radicals
Decrease antioxidants
Deplete key nutrients
53
What implications does mitochondrial damage have to the production of energy?
Compromises the electron transport chain
54
Which pathologies are linked to poor mitochondrial functioning?
Fibromyalgia
T2D
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Start of cancer
55
Ways to support mitochondrial health
Reduce toxic load
Increase nutrient co-factors
Support liver detoxification and elimination
Increase production of glutathione using sulphur and selenium
56
Can fats be used for energy in the absence of sufficient carbs?
Yes
57
How is fat converted to energy?
Lipases split triglycerides from adipose tissue into fatty acids and glycerol
Fatty acids are transported to liver
Body uses a process called beta-oxidation to convert them into molecules of Acetyl CoA
(Then follows Kreb Cycle as per carbs)
58
Why do fats yield more energy than carbs?
Due to longer fatty acid chains
59
Which nutrients are needed for the fatty acids to get into the mitochondria?
Vit B5
Magnesium
Carnitine
60
What is beta-oxidation?
The process where fatty acids are broken down into Acetyl CoAs
(ready to go into Krebs Cycle)
61
Which nutrients are needed for beta-oxidation?
Vit B2
Vit B3
Sulphur
62
Can the brain use fatty acids for energy if carbs are in short supply?
No
63
What energy source does the brain use if carbs are in short supply?
Ketone bodies
64
How are ketone bodies produced?
The mitochondria of liver cells converts Acetyl CoA into ketone bodies
65
Examples of ketone bodies
Acetone
Acetoacetic acid
Beta-hydroxybutyrate
66
What can ketone bodies also be formed from?
Protein
67
What is the production of ketones called?
Ketogenesis
68
What is the body state of forming ketones called?
Ketosis
69
When can ketosis occur?
High fat/low carb diets
| Fasting
70
What is ketoacidosis?
When ketones form in excessively high amounts
71
In which pathologies is ketoacidosis common?
DM
| Alcoholism
72
Why is ketoacidosis harmful?
Acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate are acid so if they're present in large amounts, blood pH drops
73
How can ketoacidosis be detected?
```
Smelling breath
(smells like nail varnish remover due to acetone)
```
74
In which pathologies is ketosis seen as beneficial?
Parkinson's
AZD
Cancer
Epilepsy
75
Why is ketosis beneficial in epilepsy?
Increases the amount of GABA in the brain
76
Why is ketosis beneficial in cancer?
Cancerous cells rely on glucose for their metabolism and in ketosis there is none
77
What is fasting?
Abstinence from food for a specific period of time
78
Why can fasting be beneficial?
Prevents body from expending energy digesting food
Allows body to heal/regenerate
Increases energy levels
(as fats yield more energy than carbs)
79
Examples of key types of fasting
Intermittent
Veg juice fasting
Juice fasting
Water fasting
80
How are proteins converted into energy?
Carbon parts of amino acids can be broken down to generate ATP or they can be used to make glucose (gluconeogenesis)
81
What must be removed from amino acids to help with degradation?
Nitrogen
82
Which nutrients are important co-factors in the removal of nitrogen from amino acids?
Vit B3
| Vit B6
83
What must amino acids lose to be able to enter the Krebs Cycle?
Their amine (NH2) group
84
What does the removal of the amine group (NH2) create?
Ammonia (NH3)
85
What does most ammonia, created by the removal of an amine group, create?
Urea
86
What is gluconeogenesis?
The formation of new glucose from non-carb sources
87
Examples of gluconeogenesis
Pyruvate
Lactic acid
Glycerol
Some amino acids
88
Where does gluconeogenesis happen?
Liver
| Kidneys (to lesser extent)
89
Which nutrient is needed for gluconeogenesis?
Biotin
90
Where do most adults get their energy from (%)?
47% carbs
38% fat
15% protein
91
Where do fasting adults get their energy from?
Glycogen
Then fat
Then protein
92
Where is glucose derived from?
Carbs
93
Where are fatty acids derived from?
Fat metabolism
94
Where are ketone bodies derived from?
Fat metabolism
| Amino acid metabolism
95
Where are amino acids derived from?
Protein
96
What must a naturopathic practitioner remember when looking at energy production?
All body processes are driven by the Vital Force
An illness or pathology is a blockage or insufficient of Vital Force
Need to establish why Vital Force is blocked
