Carbohydrates And Metabolism Flashcards
One glucose is converted to glucose -6-P it can enter several pathways. What are they?
-Glycolysis
-Pentose phosphate shunt
-Glycogenesis
Glycolysis: Which enzyme is needed to commit glucose-6-P to glycolysis?
Hexokinase; key step in glycolytic pathway
The enzymes of three irreversible reactions are also the main regulated enzymes of glycolysis.
What are they?
Hexokinase (glucokinase in the liver): phosphorylates glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate, trapping glucose within the cell & committing it to glycolysis
Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1): Catalyzes the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-biphosphate (key step), and subject to allosteric regulation.
Pyruvate kinase: Converts phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate, producing ATP
What does hexokinase catalyze?
Phosphorylation of glucose to produce G6P. Traps glucose within the cell and prepares it for further metabolic pathways.
Hexokinase in muscle:
reversibly regulated by G6P ( example of product inhibition)
When cellular concentrations of G6P rise above normal, Hexokinase is temporarily inhibited to bring the rate of Glucose-6-Phosphate into balance with its rate of utilization.
What reaction does PFK-1 catalyze?
fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) => fructose-1,6-biphosphate (F-1,6-B)
PFK-1 is under complex allosteric regulation:
1: ATP inhibits PFK-1 by binding to an allosteric site;
-Lowers the affinity of the enzyme for F6P
-AMP and ADP relieve the inhibition of PFK-1
Why this makes sense logically: allows the cell to fine-tune its glycolytic activity based on its current energy status, ensuring efficient utilization of glucose and ATP production in response to the cell’s energy needs.
2: Citrate
-Key intermediate in CAC
-High citrate levels inhibit PFK-1; high citrate serves a signal that the cell is meeting its current needs for energy
3: Fructose 2,6- phosphate:
-most significant allosteric regulator
-Activates PFK-1; Fructose -2,6- bisphosphate enhances the affinity of PFK-1 for F6P/ Stimulates glycolysis
-Inhibits FBP-1, slowing gluconeogenesis
Fructose- 2,6- bisphosphate continued:
Fructose- 2,6- bisphosphate is formed by phosphorylating F6P, catalyzed by phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2)
What reaction does pyruvate kinase catalyze?
Converts phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate, producing ATP
Pyruvate kinase is allosterically regulated: Inhibition-explain each logically:
1) ATP
2) Acetyl-CoA
3) Fatty-acids
1) ATP: when ATP is high => signals that the cell has sufficient energy reserves.
-ATP binds to allosteric site of pyruvate kinase, and switches the enzyme to it’s less active form.
-negative feedback mechanism; reducing pyruvate kinases activity when energy levels are high.
2: Acetyl-CoA: Intermediate in CAC cycle can allosterically inhibit pyruvate kinase;
-When the cell has abundant Acetl-CoA, indicates that the citric acid cycle is processing metabolites efficiently and there is a surplus of energy.
-Acetyl-CoA binds to allosteric site ; promoting the enzymes less active form, slowing down glycolysis and conversion of pyruvate to Acetyl-CoA. Regulating production of more energy.
-Negative feedback mechanism, reduces the glycolytic pathway when energy sources are ample.
3: Fatty acids: Inhibits pyruvate kinase indirectly;
-High levels of fatty acids in the cell typically signal that there is a need to prioritize the utilization of fatty acids for energy production instead of glucose.
-Enter the cell, undergo beta-oxidation, generating Acetyl-CoA.
-This then can activate pyruvate kinase, but fatty acids are more inhibitory due to diverting the cells focus away from glucose metabolism towards lipid metabolism for more energy production.
Pyruvate kinase is allosterically regulated:
Activation:
Fructose 1, 6 bisphosphate
Glycolysis is regulated hormonally by _________ and ___________.
insulin; glucagon
Insulin: promotes the transcription of _____________, ______________, & _____________
Hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and pyruvate kinase
(also promotes the activation of PFK-1 & inhibition of FBP-2)
Glucagon reduces the expression of _______, _____, and ___________.
hexokinase, PFK-1 & pyruvate kinase
(promotes the activation of FBP-2 & inhibition of PFK-2)
Hexokinase is activate by:
Glucose; when glucose is high, hexokinase facilitates the phosphorylation of G6P.
Hexokinase is inhibited by:
Glucose-6-phosphate; high levels of G6P signal the glycolytic pathway is already processing glucose, and further phosphorylation is not needed.
PFK-1 is activated by:
AMP; when cell’s energy levels are low and there is an accumulation of AMP, PFK-1 becomes more active.
AMP (product of ATP degradation)
PFK-1 is inhibited by:
ATP; there is enough energy in the cell
Citrate: High levels of citrate indicate the cell has ample energy reserves
Pyruvate kinase is activated by:
F-1,6-B: when these levels are high, signifies glycolysis is in full swing, and there is a demand for pyruvate production.
Pyruvate kinase is inhibited by:
ATP: when high, signals energy levels are sufficient
Alanine: Amino acid, high levels can signal that amino acid metabolism is prevailing over glycolysis.
Metabolism of other important sugars:
___________, _________, and ________ are converted into glycolytic intermediates.
Fructose, mannose, & galactose
Where does fructose metabolism predominantly occur?
Liver
Fructose metabiolism:
Which monosaccharide is metabolized faster, glucose or fructose, why?
Glucose:
1) cellular reuptake: transporters;GLUT1 & GLUT4 allow ofor efficient and rapid uptake of glucose.
2) Regulatory enzymes: Glycolytic pathway through phosphorylation by hexokinase G6P
3) Regulatory factors: Insulin; promotes glucose uptake and utilization
Excessive consumption of fructose , especially in the form of high-fructose corn syrup is associated with various metabolic issues such as: fatty liver disease & insulin resistance
The first two bypass reactions are the main regulated reactions of gluconeogenesis:
Why were these bypass reactions?
Because pyruvate kinase cannot be converted back into phosphoenolpyruvate, so the by pass is converting pyruvate into oxaloacetate to then “reverse” the irreversible reaction in gluconeogenesis.
In order to bypass the hexokinase reaction that only goes in one direction, a series of other reactions need to be made to convert G6P back to glucose in the ER.
This allows glucose to be synthesised in fasting states.
Pyruvate can be converted either to:
A) Acetyl-CoA => enter CAC
B) Oxaloacetate => enter GNG
C) Lactate (Cori cycle)
What enzyme catalyzes conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate?
Pyruvate carboxylase