Fat metabolism Flashcards
FAs
- Organic chains of C, H, and O
- Categorised based on the number and bonding of carbon atoms
- Saturated (0 double bonds)
- Monounsaturated (1 double bond)
- Polyunsaturated (>1 double bond)
- n = omega = number of carbons from methyl end
Posprandial state
• Postprandial = after a meal
• The lymphatics secrete chylomicrons into subclavian vein
• Chylomicrons dock onto lipoprotein lipase (LPL) of extrahepatic (non-liver) tissues, which releases fatty acids (FA) and glycerol
• These FA are taken up by adipose tissue for storage, or into the muscle either for utilisation as a fuel, or stored as intramuscular triacylglycerol (TAG) for later use
• If stored, FA are esterified with glycerol-3-phosphate
• Some FA are also taken up by the liver and recycled in a VLDL
DIAGRAM
Postabsorptive state
• In the fasted (postabsorptive) state, there are no chylomicrons so the liver produces very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) to carry TAG
• TAG stored within adipose tissue is hydrolysed (broken down) into FA and glycerol by hormone sensitive lipase (HSL)
• These FA are transported out of the adipocyte, although some are re- esterified (turned back into TAG for storage)
• The released FA bind to albumin to prevent coalescing and allow transport in aqueous blood
• The fatty acids are then utilised by other tissues as an energy substrate
DIAGRAM
Reg of FA utilisation
• Lipolysis of triacylglycerol to form free fatty acids
• Re-esterification of the fatty acids, or alternatively, their mobilisation
from adipose tissue
• Transport of the acyl-CoA esters into the mitochondrion
• Availability of FAD and NAD for B-oxidation
FA lipolysis and mobilisation from adipose tissue
- Similar to post-absorptive state, during exercise or stress TAG are mobilised for oxidation
- Analogous to mobilisation of glycogen as occurs under similar circumstances and under hormonal control
- 60 kg individual with 10% body fat • 6 kg fat = 54,000 kcal
- 25 days food energy
- Total glycogen around 3000 kcal
Lipolysis
Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL)
• Lipase = general term for any enzyme which hydrolyses TAG into FA and glycerol
• HSL is activated when phosphorylated by protein kinase(s)
DIAGRAM
Lipolysis v re-esterification
DIAGRAM
FA transport across cell membranes
- ‘Flip-flop’ and carrier mediated process
- Uses functional carriers
- Once inside the cell fatty acids then become activated by a family of acyl- CoA synthetase enzymes to fatty-acyl-CoAs
- Once activated acyl-CoA (e.g. palmitoyl-CoA) can either undergo incorporation into other lipid pools or oxidation by mitochondria
- Once such lipid pool in intramuscular triacylglycerol (IMTG) droplets
- Synthesis similar to adipose tissue triacylglycerol droplets
- IMTG is a readily available fuel source for mitochondria
Lipolysis of IMTG
DIAGRAM
Carnitine shuttle
DIAGRAM
B-oxidation
DIAGRAM
• Its purpose is to turn acyl-CoA into many acetyl-CoA molecules
• Each cycle removes a 2-carbon fragment from acyl-CoA to release
1 acetyl-CoA molecule
• The acetyl-CoA then enters the TCA cycle
• The H+ enter the ETC
• Acyl-CoA then returns to the top of the cycle and the process is repeated until all the carbons in the fatty acid chain are consumed
Fat ox during prolonged ex
• Increase to meet energy demand
• kJ energy from fat ox = g x 39.4
• kJ energy from carb ox = g x 15.6
o Same energy contribution
Plasma FA concentration during prolonged ex
- Regulates lipolysis
- Exponentially increases
- Plasma adrenaline also increase and insulin falls
- Initial drop in plasma DA reflects slow mobilisation of FA from adipose tissue and uptake of FA from working muscles
- Increased FA flux (rate molecule passes through several reactions) will increase acetyl CoA
- Increases acetyl CoA will inhibit PDC (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex) and carb ox
- Increasing acetyl CoA will increase citrate, which inhibits PFK
- Inhibiting PFK will inhibit glycolysis and carb ox
- Accumulation G6P – inhibit glycogenolysis – inhibit glucose passing down grad
- Better to rely on fat – unlimited store – try and spare glycogen
- Not good for high intensity ex
Fat ox and ex intensity
(Reg how much fat used during ex)
Metabolic demands of ex
- As ex intensity increases, ATP demand of contraction increases
- Ex between 70-90% VO2 max requires ATP demand of around 1 mol ATP/min
- Clearly cannot be met by fat ox alone (max rate of 0.4 mol ATP/min)
- Why does fat ox decline?
- Avail of substrates during ex
- Max rate of utilisation