Inborn Errors of Metabolism Flashcards
What are the different forms of IEM?
Carbohydrate disorders, Fatty acid oxidation defects, Aminoacidopathies
What are examples of carbohydrate disorders?
Galactosemia, fructosemia
What are some examples of fatty acid oxidation defects?
Medium chain acyl-CoA, dehydrogenase deficiency.
What are some examples of aminoacidopathies?
Phenylketonuria, Alkaptonuria
What are oligosaccharides?
Two or more monosaccharides linked by O-glycosidic bonds
What is lactose synthase?
Heterodimer compromising the α-lactalbumin and β4galactosyltransferase -1
What is the function of prolactin?
Stimulates the expression of α-lactalbumin in the lactating mammary gland
What is α-lactalbumin?
The enzyme that produces the breast milk
What is the reversible equation between glucose, galactose and lactose?
Lactose and water —-(lactase)—-> Galactose + Glucose
Where is lactase located?
The brush border (microvilli) of the small intestine
What is lactase and what is its function?
β-D-galactosidase that catalyses the breakdown of lactose to galactose and glucose
What other deficiencies affect the carbohydrate absorption?
Surcease, isomaltase and trehalase deficiencies
What is lactase deficiency?
The failure to express the enzyme (lactase) that hydrolyses lactose into galactose and glucose in the small intestine
What are some symptoms that occur as milk is ingested for people with IEM??
Stools have a low pH
Stools contain glucose produced by bacteria action on undigested lactose
What happens to lactose in lactase-deficient individuals?
Gut bacteria ferment lactose to lactic acid, methane, and acetate
What does bacterial fermentation cause?
Abdominal cramps, bloating and nausea
What is lactose malabsorption?
Failure to digest or absorb lactose in the small intestine
Why does the lactase enzyme decrease in numbers after weaning?
The quantity of lactose taken in is less, if any dairy products are consumed the enzyme cannot break it down so gut bacteria have to do so.
What are symptoms of lactose intolerance?
Flatulence
Abdominal discomfort
Bloating
Diarrhea
What are the common symptoms of galactosemia?
Failure to thrive
Predisposition to sometimes life-threatening infections
Jaundice
Liver failure
What causes jaundice in galactosemia?
The liver is unable to break down bilirubin
How does galactose enter the liver?
Freely from the blood to the hepatocytes
Where is galactose metabolised?
In the liver
Explain the pathway galactose into glucose.
Enters liver through GLUT 2
GALK transforms galactose into galactose-1-phosphate
Galactose-1-phosphate turns into glucose-1-phosphate through GALT
PGM1 converts glucose-1-phosphate into glucose-6-phosphate
Glycolysis
Why are cells not equipped or adapted to utilise galactose for metabolism?
Most galactose is removed and metabolised through the liver, excreted through urine
How does galactose become galactose-1-phosphate?
Through galactokinase (phosphorylation, so ATP is used up)