Energy Storage (Glycogen And Fat) Flashcards
What are the tissues which have an absolute requirement for glucose?
Red blood cells
Neutrophils
Innermost cells of kidney medulla
Lens of eye
Why do RBCs have an absolute requirement for glucose?
No mitochondria so need glucose for glycolysis for energy
What levels of glucose in hypoglycaemia lead to confusion?
2.8mmol/L
What is the name of the polymer which is a store of glucose?
Glycogen
Where and how is glycogen stored?
Muscles (mainly skeletal)
Liver
Store as granules
How are glucose residues linked together?
By alpha 1-4 and alpha 1-6 glycosidic bonds
What are the 4 steps of Glycogenesis?
Glucose phosphorylated to glucose-6-phosphate by Hexokinase
Glucose 6-phosphate converted to Glucose 1 phosphate by phosphoglucomutase
Glucose 1-phosphate converted to UDP-glucose by G1P uridyltransferase
UDP-glucose added to glycogen to extend the length of glycogen
What are the 2 enzymes involved in the 4th step of Glycogenesis?
Glycogen synthase forms a 1-4 glycosidic bonds
Branching enzyme forms a 1-6 glycosidic bonds
Describe the 1st step of glycogenolysis in its 2 step process stating which enzymes could be involved
Phosphate is added to glycogen forming Glucose 1-phosphate and a shortened glycogen
The 2 enzymes involved depend on which glycosidic bond is being broken
Glycogen phosphorylase breaks a 1-4 glycosidic bond
Debranching enzyme breaks a 1-6 glycosidic bond
Describe the 2nd step of glycogenolysis stating which enzyme is involved:
Glucose 1-phosphate is converted into Glucose-6-phosphate by Phosphoglucomutase
How is the glucose-6-phosphate utilised in the muscle?
Enters glycolysis to produce energy
How is glucose 6 phosphate utilised in the liver?
Gets converted into glucose and is released into the blood
What enzyme catalyses the conversion of Glucose-6-phosphate into Glucose?
Glucose-6-Phosphatase
What is the function of the glycogen stores in the liver?
Acts as a buffer to blood glucose levels
What is the function of glycogen in the muscles?
Energy for the muscle since the muscles lack glucose-6-Phosphatase so the glucose-6-phosphate is trapper in the muscle
Enters glycolysis
What is the transporter which takes up glucose in skeletal muscle?
GLUT 4
What is the name of the transporter which takes up glucose in the liver?
GLUT 2
What are the 2 key enzymes that are regulated to control liver glycogen metabolism?
Glycogen synthase (synthesis)
Glycogen phosphorylase (degradation)