fed and fasted states Part 2

Question 1

Principles of metabolic regulation

Answer 1

The flow of metabolites through pathways must be regulated to maintain
homeostasis.

   Homeostasis occurs when metabolite concentrations are at a steady 
  state.

   Following perturbation, a new steady state is achieved.

Sometimes the levels of required metabolites must be altered very rapidly,
for example:

  to increase the rate of glycolysis during activity.

  to reduce the rate of glycolysis after activity.

  to increase the rate of gluconeogenesis after activity.

Regulation of only one or two key metabolic steps regulates the rate of the
entire pathway.