Biochemical aspects of liver metabolism Flashcards
Where is bile produced?
Liver
Name a plasma protein which is secreted in the liver
Albumin
What important molecules are stored in the liver?
Fuels, Iron, Vitamins
By what 2 processes are unwanted molecules eliminated?
Metabolism
Excretion into the biliary tree and faecal excretion
What is the importance of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism
Fuel storage
What is the importance of the amino acid metabolism
Urea cycle
What is electrophoresis
It allows the separation of proteins by size
Name 5 functions of plasma proteins
Maintenance of oncotic or colloid osmotic pressure Transport of hydrophobic substancces pH bufferring Enzymatic Immunity
What is the purpose of maintaining osmotic pressure
Prevents the loss of plasma proteins
Name some hydrophobic substances transported by plasma proteins
Steroid hormones
Free fatty acids
bilirubin
cholesterol
Name an ezymatic function of plasma proteins
Blood clotting
What are the 2 main substances secreted through plasma protein secretion
Albumin and alpha globulins
What do alpha globulins do?
Transport lipoproteins, lipids, hormones and bilirubin
What does retinol binding protein do?
Transports vitamin A
Name the main two beta globulins
Transferrin and fibrinogen
What is the function of Transferrin
Transports Fe3+
Indicator or iron deficiency
What is the function of fibrinogen
Inactive for of fibrin
Involved in the clotting of blood
What is Albumin and what is its main roll
Most abundant plasma protein
Small, negatively charge, water soluble protein
It is the main determinant of plasma oncotic pressure
How much albumin does the liver synthesise per day
14g
What stimulates the synthesis of albumin
Insulin
What causes low levels of albumin
Liver disease
Starvation / low protein diet