Glycolysis Flashcards
Tissues that can only use glucose as a metabolic fuel:
brain, RBCs, renal medulla, cornea, testes, exercising muscle
What is the end product of glycolysis?
2 pyruvates
What occurs to the 2 pyruvates after glycolysis?
converted into 2 acetyl coAs, which enters the TCA cycle
How does glucose enter cells?
- can’t simply diffuse into cells
- carried by either facilitated diffusion (GLUT transport proteins in membrane) or Na+-dependent co-transport (SGLT)
What are the GLUT transporter isoforms and their locations?
- GLUT1: brain and RBCs
- GLUT2: hepatocytes
- GLUT3: neurons
- GLUT4: adipose tissue and skeletal muscle
What is the phosphorylation of glucose to trap it in cells catalyzed by?
- Hexokinase: most cell types
- Glucokinase: liver and pancreatic islet cells
Describe the enzymatic activity of glucokinase vs. hexokinase:
Hexokinase has a lower Km than glucokinase but also has a lower Vmax
Functions of glucokinase:
- helps beta-cells in pancrease sense rising glucose concentrations in order to trigger insulin release
- allows liver to mop up high conc. of glucose in the portal circulation after a meal
How are glucokinase and hexokinase regulated?
- glucokinase regulated by fructose-6-phosphate
- hexokinase regulated allosterically by glucose-6-phosphate
What is the rate limiting step of glycolysis?
phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1)
What is the PFK1 in glycolysis regulated by?
- inhibited by ATP and citrate
- stimulated by AMP and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
What is the function of PFK2?
converts fructose-6-phosphate into fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
How does PFK-2 exist in the body?
exists in a bifunctional enzyme complex with FBP-2–activity controlled by phosphorylation
Describe the hormonal regulation of glycolysis:
- high insulin/glucagon ratio–> decreased cAMP and reduced levels of active PKA
- decreased PKA favors dephosphorylation of PFK2/FBP2
- dephosphorylated PFK2 active whereas FBP2 is inactive–> favors formation of F2,6BP
- elevated conc. of F2,6BP activates PFK1, leading to increased rate of glycolysis
What happens to F2,6BP in response to insulin after a high carbohydate meal?
increases and therefore acts as a signal of high glucose levels, promoting glycolysis