Fatty Acid Synthesis. Flashcards
What is prosthetic group?
A cofactor or coenzyme that is often covalently bonded to the enzyme.
What is enzyme induction?
The up-regulation or synthesis of more of a particular enzyme.
De-novo fatty acid synthesis in humans take place?
In the liver and in the lactating mammary gland.
What will the liver use to make fatty acids?
Glucose.
Why will the liver make fatty acids?
To reduce blood glucose levels.
What condition will the synthesis of fatty acids prevent?
Hyperglycaemia.
Will the liver ever store fat?
No.
Fat is always stored in the fat cells.
What organelle will fatty acid synthesis take place in in liver cells?
In the cytoplasm and the mitochondria.
What are the 3 main enzymes or enzyme complexes that are involved in fatty acid synthesis?
Citrate lyase.
Carboxylase.
The fatty acid synthase complex.
What happens in step 1 of fatty acid synthesis?
ACoA is synthesised in the cytoplasm by converting citrate to ACoA and oxaloacetate.
Where is ACoA normally made?
In the mitochondria.
Why does ACoA need to be made in the cytoplasm for fatty acid synthesis?
Because ACoA cannot leave the mitochondria.
How is mitochondrial ACoA formed?
Citrate will leave the mitochondria and enter the cytoplasm where citrate lyase can break it down to ACoA and oxaloacetate.
When will citrate leave the mitochondria to enter the cytoplasm?
When levels of mitochondrial citrate are high.
How is mitochondrial citrate formed?
By combining ACoA and oxaloacetate with citrate lyase.
What happens in step 2 of fatty acid synthesis when ACoA is found in the cytoplasm
It can be used to form fatty acids.
How is ACoA used to form fatty acids in step 2 of fatty acid synthesis?
ACoA is carboxylated to malonyl-CoA by ACoA carboxylase.
What cofactor will ACoA carboxylase use?
Biotin.
What is the rate limiting step in fatty acid synthesis?
When ACoA is carboxylated to malonyl-CoA.
What happens to malonyl CoA once it has been synthesised in step 2 of fatty acid synthesis?
It can enter fatty acid synthase complex and be converted to palmitate.
What is the substrate for the fatty acid synthase complex?
Malonyl CoA.
What energy is used by the fatty acid synthase complex to convert malonyl CoA to palmitate?
2 NADPH molecules.
How many carbons will palmitate have?
16.
What is the only step of fatty acid synthesis that will take place in the mitochondria?
The formation of citrate.
What energy does ACoA carboxylase require to convert ACoA to malonyl CoA?
1 ATP.
How many carbons are added to ACoA when it is converted to malonyl CoA?
It increases by 1 carbon.
How many carbons does ACoA have?
2.
How many carbons does malonyl CoA have?
3.
What substrates are used by ACoA carboxylase?
ACoA + CO2.
The fatty acid synthase complex is composed of how many subunits?
2.