Biochemistry Flashcards
Rate limiting step
e slowest step of a chemical reaction that determines the speed (rate) at which the overall reaction proceeds
primer
a molecule whose presence is required for the formation of another molecules
glycogenesis
synthesis of glycogen form glucose
glycogenolysis
break down of glycogen to form glucose
glycogen
storage form of glucose
present in liver and muscle cells
liver glycogen
can be released into the blood stream to maintain blood glucose levels
muscle glycogen
cannot be released into the blood stream, is used in the cell to form energy via glycolysis and citric acid cycle
when does glycogenesis occur?
between meal times to maintain blood glucose levels
when does gluconeogenesis occur?
when the liver glycogen stores are depleted and glucose is required to be produced from non carbohydrate precursors
what bond holds glucose molecules in the chain together
α 1-4 glycosidic bonds, between the no1 carbon on one carbon on one glucose and the number 4 carbon on another glucose
what bonds attach the branches to glycogen molcules
α 1-6 glycosidic bonds
where is the glycogenin protein and what does it do
centre of glycogen molecule, catalytic activity
adds a few glucose molecules to itself
Why is the glycogenin protein so crucial?
because the enzyme glycogen synthase cannot start glycogen from scratch, it can only add glucose to an existing chain
what does hexokinase do?
phosphorylates glucose to form glucose 6 phosphate
what does phosphoglucomutase do?
transfers glucose 6 phosphate to glucose 1 phosphate
moves the position of glucose
