Absorption Flashcards
what disaccharidases are localised to the membrane of enterocytes
- Maltase (breaks down maltose), sucrase (splits sucrose into glucose and fructose) as they can cleave internal and terminal 1-4
- isomaltose (can cleave alpha limit dextrin’s as it cleaves 1-6)
Lactase which breaks down lactose
what are the 2 stages of carbohydrate digestion?
Intraluminal digestion (salivary enzymes and pancreatic enzymes in the GI tract) and membrane digestion (microvilli on the brush border convert oligosaccharides to monosaccharides)
where are the disaccharidases in the small intestine concentrated?
jejunum
how does intraluminal digestion occur for proteases?
Intraluminal digestion occurs via proteases excreted by the gastric and pancreatic cells (secreted as proenzymes activated by low PH and enterokinases on the brush border respectively)
what are the 2 types of peptidases?
endopeptidases (cleave after specific amino acids within polypeptide chain)
exopeptidase (cleave specific peptide bond adjacent to the C terminus)
how are neonates an exception to protein absorption?
can absorb intact antibodies from mothers breast milk via endocytosis
otherwise peptides have to be oligopeptides or amino acids to be absorbed
where are peptidases present?
secreted from chief cells in the stomach, or acinar cells in the pancreas where they are activated in the small intestine, membrane of enterocytes (membrane digestion)
give 3 examples of proteins transporters in enterocytes?
PepT1- H+ cotransporter (oligopeptides and H+ into cells), Na+ cotransporter of AA, Na+ independent AA transporters on the basal side
what is cystinuria?
cysteine stone formation in renal system due to mutated channels leading to deficient cysteine uptake in the intestine
what is vitamin A for?
- Retinol (animal form), Beta Carotene (Plants)
- Needed to form rhodopsin a key component of the eye for detecting light
Deficiencies lead to light blindness
explain vitamin E
- Also know as alpha-tocopherol
- Major source is oily food
- Antioxidant, turn of oxidants produced by immune cells to kill pathogens
- Deficiencies damage caused in many areas of the body / poor immune system function due to the build-up of oxidants
Explain vitamin D source and effects of poor vitamin D
- Can get it from sunlight, if lack sufficient sunlight need to consume it in our diet
- Vitamin D deficiency = bone softening also known as osteomalacia also have demineralisation
explain vitamin K
- Green leafy vegetables are a major source
- Produced by macrobacteria in the gut
- Deficiencies are uncommon but supplements are given to babies
- Needed for prothrombin formation so deficiencies = excessive bleeding
how are vitamins absorbed?
dissolved within micelles in the small intestine to aid adsorption
what are the functions of dietary lipids?
energy storage molecule that provides a large source of energy and insulation
essential for membrane formation as essential fatty acids cannot be endogenously produced