Biochemistry Flashcards
What is glycogenesis?
Synthesis of glycogen from glucose
What is glycogenolysis?
Breakdown of glycogen to form glucose
Where is glycogen stored in the body?
Liver
Muscle cells
When enough glucose is present, glycogen synthesis begins: glucose-6-phosphate is converted to what?
Glucose-1-phosphate
What is formed from glucose-1-phosphate in glycogen synthesis?
UDP-glucose
What is UDP-glucose?
Essentially an active form of glucose
When does glycogenolysis occur?
Between meals to maintain blood glucose levels
Which enzyme catalyses glycogenolysis?
Glycogen phosphorylase
What are the 2 regulatory actions of glucagon upon glycogenolysis?
Stimulates glycogen breakdown
Inhibits glycogen synthase
What is gluconeogenesis? When does it occur?
Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors
Occurs when glycogen stores are completely depleted
Where does gluconeogenesis mainly occur?
Liver
Which TCA cycle intermediate is needed for gluconeogenesis? Why is it needed?
Oxaloacetate (4C)
Accepts acetyl groups from fat breakdown
Describe the Cori Cycle
Blood transports lactate to liver
Liver converts lactate to glucose
Glucose is released into blood
What effect do insulin and glucagon have on gluconeogenesis?
Insulin inhibits gluconeogenesis
Glucagon stimulates gluconeogenesis
What happens when increased fat intake is not coupled with appropriate energy expenditure?
OBESITY
Increase in number and size of adipocytes
Fat provides us with 2x more energy than carbohydrates. True/False?
True
What are essential fatty acids?
Fatty acids required by, but cannot be synthesised by, the body
What are the main products of lipid digestion?
Glycerol
Fatty acids
Monoglycerides
What must happen to long-chain fatty acids to make them transportable?
Resynthesised to triglyceride and coated into a chylomicron, which enters the lymph
What happens to chylomicrons at muscle and adipose tissue?
Cleaved by lipoprotein lipase into free fatty acids
What happens to free fatty acids at muscle and adipose tissue?
Resynthesised into triglyceride or oxidised to provide energy