Carbohydrate metabolism Flashcards
What is the basis of metabolism
Making and using ATP by using ATP to drive reactions
How is energy for anabolic processed provided
The hydrolysis of ATP
How much ATP is present in tissues?
An amount only sufficient for a few seconds unless replenished
List the ways in which ATP can be replenished
Creatinine phosphate
- short term phosphate store
- used by muscle and nervous system
- Athletes can build up stores with supplements
Anaerobic metabolism of CHO to lactate
- all cells can do this
- produces some ATP
Aerobic metabolism of CHO, fat and/or protein
- Most cells do this the majority of the time
- requires mitochondria
- Majority of tissues use FA as substrate most of the time
List carbohydrates in the diet
Polysaccharides - chain of monosaccharides as a polymer - Starch - Cellulose Disaccharides - Maltose - glucose and maltose - Sucrose - glucose and glucose - Lactose - glucose and galactose Monosaccharides - Glucose - Fructose
Describe the carbohydrate structure of monosaccharides
All have the same chemical formula arranged in different ways (C6H12O6)
Can be recognised by different transporters
What is D-glucose?
Refers to the way solution of glucose will rotate plane of polarised light to the right (dextro)
What is L-glucose
laevo.
The mirror image enatiomer of D-glucose.
It is not found naturally
What is the difference between alpha and beta D-glucose
alpha-D-glucose has OH group below the C1 atom
beta-D-glucose has OH group above the C1 atom
Describe the structure of disaccharides
Disaccharides are linked by an alpha 1-2 glycosidic bond
Human enzymes can break these bonds
Describe the structure of polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are linked by an alpha 1-4 glycosidic bond
Where in the digestive tract can carbohydrates not be digested?
In the stomach, which only digests proteins
Which form of carbohydrates is mainly found in the diet?
Starch
What are dextrins?
Short chains of glucose, but does not qualify as starch
What does pancreatic enzymes break starch into?
dextrins and disaccharides
List 4 reasons some starches slowly digested compared to others?
1) Due to a structural cause
- trapped inside intact starch granules/plant cell wall structure (raw cereals, vegetables)
- Takes longer to liberate starch granules in this form
2) resistant to amylase
- 3D structure too tightly packed (processed foods, raw/cold potato)
- Tight packing causes smaller surface area for enzyme action = longer to digest
3) fibre increases viscosity, slowing down starch digestion
- associated with dietary fibre (slows absorption/digestion as gut contents becomes viscous (beans/legumes)
4) fat content
- CHO foods with high fat levels may have delayed gastric emptying
What is the glycaemic index
The glycaemic index (GI) is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates.
What is the difference between high GI food and low GI food
High GI food = very rapidly absorbed (blood glucose shoots up)
Low GI foods = Take longer for the glucose to be liberated from the food, blood glucose goes up much less
How is cellulose digested?
Humans do not have the enzymes to cleave b-1,4 links of cellulose (polymer of glucose)
Cannot get calories from cellulose
Where is carbohydrates stored?
In the liver and skeletal muscle as glycogen
Muscle is the principle store.
Why is CHO homeostasis important?
Some tissues are dependent on the constant supply of glucose. A lot of energy is spent on this.
How does the brain use carbohydrates
Brain contains a lot of lipids and can make lipids but cannot take lipids out of the blood stream due to the architecture of the blood brain barrier
A lot of neurotransmitters are derived from glucose metabolites
How do erythrocytes use carbohydrates
Erythrocytes have no mitrochondria to oxidise glucose and can only carry out glycolysis
What is the normal blood glucose level
4-5mM (fasted)
In the brain it is slightly lower at 2-3mM
Levels can increase to 8-12mM after a meal
Some people are more CHO tolerant than others, and some have slower digestion/absorption
What are the principle regulators of glucose homeostasis?
The hormones insulin and glucagon.
Insulin = fed state
Glucagon = fasted state