Fat metabolism Flashcards
Do lipids provide a long term energy store or short term energy store
Long term energy store
why is triglycerides the ideal form of energy
- high energy density
- has a limitless capacity for storage
what is the main storage tissue for triglycerides
fat droplets
what does lipolysis do
- breaks down triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol
what can fatty acids be used for
- they can be oxidised for energy - this happens in oxidative tissues such as muscle and liver
- or they can be converted to ketone bodies and used in non-oxidative tissues
what can glycerol be used for
glucose synthesis
what are the sites of lipogenesis
Liver
White adipose tissue
Lactating mammary gland
how are fatty acids stored
- they are stored in adipose tissue as triglycerides
what are the two stages of lipogenesis
- Formation of malonyl-CoA from acetyl-CoA
2. Elongation of the chain via fatty acid synthetase
what is lipogenesis
this is the formation of lipid molecules
How does lipogenesis happen
- Glucose enters the cell and is converted to pyruvate via glycolysis
- the Pyruvate then enters the mitochondria and takes part in the krebs cycle.
- The citrate produced in the krebs cycle, leaves the mitochondria, and is converted to acetylCoA in the cytoplasm.
- This then is converted to malonylCoA
- then to palmitate, which is acted upon by fatty acid synthetase to produce fatty acids
- this can be used to extend fatty acid chains by 2 carbon units
what is palmitate
this is the first fatty acid produced during FA synthesis and is the precursor to longer fatty acid
How is lipogenesis controlled
- it is controlled by Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
- this catlayses the irreversible carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to produce Malonyl-CoA
- Malonyl-CoA inhibits the carnitine shuttle and therefore prevents beta oxidation and fatty acid oxidation
- Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is active when dephopshorylated
- AMPK is the main kinase regulator of Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and is able to phosphorylate the serine residues on it therefore it deactivates it
what enzyme controls Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
AMPK
how does AMPK control Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
- AMPK is the main kinase regulator of Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and is able to phosphorylate the serine residues on it therefore it deactivates it
what are the three ways in which Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) is controlled
- Polymerisation – by citrate (activation), this increases ACC activity
- This is inihibted by palmitoyl-CoA - Phosphorylation by AMP dependent kinase and PKA (inactivation)
- Genetic control (long term)
How do hormones control Acetyl-CoA carboxylaseACC
- Insulin stimulates ACC and thus stimulates fatty acid synthesis by dephophosphrylating it
- glucagon and adnrelaine dephosphorylate it thus inhibiting fatty acid synthesis
what is lipolysis
- breakdown of lipids
when is lipolysis required
Used to mobilise energy stores during exercise or fasting