Fat Metabolism Flashcards
How is fat stored in the body
- Most of the bodies fat is stored in adipocytes which form tissues called adipose tissues
- Some is stored in hepatocytes
What are triglycerides made of
Triglycerides (TGs or TAGs) consist of 3 fatty acids bound to a glycerol molecule
How much do triglycerides account for in body energy stores
what about proteins and carbs
It accounts for 78% of energy stored in the body
Proteins account for 21% and carbohydrates account for 1%
95% of dietary lipids are triglycerides, the rest consist of
phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFAs), cholesterol and fat soluble vitamins
what are lipids
They are esters of fatty acids and certain alcohol compounds
function of lipids
- Energy reserves
- Structural part of cell membrane
- Hormone metabolism
Function of Lipoproteins
They are used to transport cholesterol in the blood
Where is HDL made
liver
Function of HDL
- Removeexcess cholesterol from blood and tissue
- They then deliver this cholesterol to the liver which secretes it into the bileor converts it into bile salts
- Referred to as “good” cholesterol, since it removes cholesterol from plasma
where is LDL formed
formed in the plasma
How are LDLs taken up by cells
LDLs bind to plasma membrane receptors specific for a protein component of the LDLs and are then taken up by the cells via endocytosis
why are LDLs said to be bad
LDL cholesterol is said to be “bad” due to the fact that high plasma concentrations can be associated with increased deposition of cholesterol in arterial walls and a higher incidence of heart attacks
But why is LDL important
However, LDL is essential in supplying cells with the cholesterol they require to synthesise cell membranes and for steroid hormone production in the gonads and adrenal glands + aldosterone + cortisol
LDL function
The main cholesterol carriers and they deliver cholesterol to cells throughout the body
is essential in supplying cells with the cholesterol they require to synthesise cell membranes and for steroid hormone production in the gonads and adrenal glands + aldosterone + cortisol
What Is VLDL where made
and function
synthesised in hepatocytes - carries triglycerides from glucose in liverto adipocytes
Under resting conditions approximately half the energy used by muscle, liver and the kidneys is derived from the
catabolism of fatty acids
Most cells store some degree of fat, but most of the body’s fat is stored in adipocytes
how so
almost the entire cytoplasm of each adipocyte is filled with a single large fat droplet
what is adipose tissue
Clusters of adipocytes form adipose tissue, most which is in deposits underlying the skin or surrounding internal organs
What is the purpose of adipocytes
The function of adipocytes is to synthesise and storetriglycerides during periods of food uptake and the, when food is not being absorbed from the small intestine, to release fatty acids and glycerol into the blood for uptake & use by other cells in order to provide the energy required for ATP formation
1 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
What does CoEnzyme A do
Molecule of coenzyme A link to the carboxyl at the end of a fatty acid
2 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
what happens when a Molecule of coenzyme A link to the carboxyl at the end of a fatty acid
This step is followed by the breakdown of ATP —> AMP + 2Pi3.
The coenzyme A derivative of fatty acid then proceeds through beta-oxidation reactions
3 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
What happens in the beta oxidation reactions
A molecule of acetyl coenzyme A is split off from the fatty acid and two pairs of hydrogen atoms are transferred to coenzymes (one pair to FAD and the other pair to NAD+)
4 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
what happens after two pairs of hydrogen atoms are transferred to coenzymes (one pair to FAD and the other pair to NAD+)
The hydrogen atoms from the coenzymes then enter the oxidative phosphorylation pathway to form ATP
Another coenzyme A attaches to the fatty acid and the cycle is repeated
5 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
what happens each passage through this sequence
Each passage through this sequence shortens the fatty acid chain by two carbons atoms until all the carbon atoms have transferred to coenzyme A molecules
6 RELEASE OF FATTY ACID TO MAKE ATP PROCESS
what happens when all the carbon atoms have transferred to coenzyme A molecules
These molecules then lead to the production of CO2 & ATP via the Kreb’s cycle & oxidative phosphorylation
function of Lipoprotein lipase
Hydrolyses triglycerides in lipoproteins (chylomicrons & VLDLs) into 2 free fatty acids & 1 glycerol molecule
Function of Hepatic lipase
- Expressed in the liver and adrenal glands
- Converts IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein) into LDL thereby packaging it with more triglycerides to be released in the body
What secretes bile
Secreted in the liver by hepatocytes more or less continuously
function of bile
Used to emulsify fats
Also serves as an excretory pathway for most steroid hormones, many drugs as well some toxins metabolised by the liver
Where is bile stored and concentrated
Stored & CONCENTRATED in the gall bladdersince some NaCl & water are absorbed into the blood
Where does the gall bladder lie
The gall bladder, lies at the junction of the right-mid-clavicular line & costal margin
how is liver connected to GI TRACT
The livers connection with the GI tract is via the portal vein which collects blood from the superior mesenteric vein (which in turn is effectively the venous drainage of both the small and large intestines)