Fatty Acid Metabolism

Question 1

What happens the body when it cannot store carbohydrates or proteins?

Answer 1

Excess food is converted to fat

Question 2

What is protein primarily used for?

Answer 2

Tissue synthesis

Question 3

What is upper body obesity encouraged by?

Answer 3

Testosterone and excessive alcohol intake

Question 4

Where is abdominal fat released into ?

Answer 4

The liver

Question 5

Fat affects the livers ability to clear what?

Answer 5

• insulin
• lipoprotein

Question 6

What is lower body obesity encouraged by?

Answer 6

• oestrogen
• progesterone

Question 7

What are the cells called that store fat?

Answer 7

Adipocytes

Question 8

Outline the 2 types of fat?

Answer 8

1. Brown fat
2. White fat

Question 9

What are fatty acids stored as?

Answer 9

Triacylgyerides

Question 10

As triacylglycerides can’t pass membranes into cells how are they absorbed?

Answer 10

Must be re-synthesised into triacylglcerides

Question 11

Free fatty acids are not soluble in blood and therefore bind to…

Answer 11

Albumin

Question 12

What must fatty acids react with to form acytl CoA?

Answer 12

Coenzyme A

(BEFORE they enter the mitochondria)

Question 13

What is the function of translocase?

Answer 13

Carries long-chain activated fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix

Question 14

What pathway converts transported acyl CoA into acetyl CoA?

Answer 14

B-oxidation pathway

Question 15

Outline the functions of insulin?

Answer 15

Insulin signals for glucose uptake into tissues

Prevents fatty acids release from adipose tissues

Question 16

What are the 2 major consequences caused by the absence of insulin?

Answer 16

1) the liver cannot absorb glucose

2) adipose cells are not prevented from releasing fatty acids

Question 17

What does the supply of oxaloacetate depend upon?

Answer 17

Glucose degradation in glycolysis

Question 18

Outline the 6 steps of diabetic ketosis?

Answer 18

1. OAA level drops
2. CAC slows
3. Free fatty acids are released
4. Ketone bodies form
5. Blood pH drops
6. Come and death results

Question 19

What fuel source does the heart muscle and renal cortex use?

Answer 19

Acetoacetate

Question 20

Outline the two components that are capable of making fatty acids?

Answer 20

1) liver

2) adipose tissue

Question 21

What does synthesis begin with?

Answer 21

The addition of acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA

Question 22

Enzymes involved in this synthesis are joined in a single polypeptide chain called…

Answer 22

Fatty acid synthase

Question 23

What does the 2nd round of synthesis begin with?

Answer 23

Condensation of butyryl ACP and malonyl ACP

Question 24

Describe how acetyl CoA carboxylase is the fat controller?

Answer 24

1) sensitive to AMP

2) posts of AMP indicated low energy

3) no need to store energy

4) acetyl CoA carboxylase switched off

Question 25

How can we use AMP to switch off acetyl CoA carboxylase?

Answer 25

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylates acetyl carboxylase and switches if off