Lecture 34: Glycogen Metabolism Flashcards
Wednesday 4th December 2024
How branched is glycogen?
very highly branched
What does the branching of glycogen help with?
Branching enables rapid synthesis and breakdown (more accessible ends for enzymes).
Is it true that storing glucose as glycogen reduces osmotic pressure compared to storing free glucose?
Yes, and allows cells to store large amounts of glucose without altering the osmotic pressure significantly.
What is glycogen stored as?
Insoluble granules in the liver and the skeletal muscle
What would glucose require to be used directly as storage?
Storing free glucose would require a lot of water due to its solubility and would cause issues with osmotic balance
What is the store of glucose in the liver used to regulate?
Blood glucose levels
What is the store of glucose in the muscles used to regulate?
Solely for the muscle
Glycogen –> Glucose-1-P –> Glucose-6-P (2nd step of glycolysis)..
Why does the body need to use glycogen for energy storage in addition to the more abundant fat?
Fatty acids cannot be metabolised anaerobically
Blood glucose must be maintained to serve as fuel for the brain
Animals cannot convert fatty acids to glucose
What are the only organisms that can turn fatty acids into glucose?
Plants and bacteria
By which pathway do plants and bacteria turn fatty acids into glucose?
The Glyoxylate pathway. Instead of being oxidised, Isocitrate is cleaved and glyoxylate and succinate are formed. Succinate can then continue on in the citric acid cycle in order to regenerate oxaloacetate. The glyoxylate can react with a Acetyl CoA and malate can be reformed. Extra intermediate is generated (an extra malate from glyaxolate), so one intermediate can be taken out and turned into glucose
What 2 bonds does glycogen have?
α-1,4 glycosidic bonds and α-1,6 glycosidic bonds
What is sued to cleave the bonds in glycogen?
A phosphate, not water
Describe glycogen breakdown (branch points)
1) α-1,4 glycosidic bonds on each branch are cleaved till 4 residues left
2) Transferase shifts a block of 3 residues from one branch to the other
3) The branch point residue (green) is removed by α-1,- glycosidase (debranching enzyme) leaving a linear chain
What does enzyme transferase do?
Moves a block of glucose residues to an adjacent chain.
What does the debranching enzyme do?
Removes the remaining glucose molecule linked by an alpha-1,6 bond.
In terms of energy, what is UTP the same as?
ATP
Where does UDP come from?
UTP
Does glycogen synthesis occur by a “reversal” of the phosphorolytic cleavage?
No
Is glycogen synthesis endergonic?
Yes, requires the input of energy in the form of UTP
What reaction occurs in glycogen synthesis?
Glucose-1-phosphate + UTP –> UDP-glucose + Pyrophosphate
(pyrophosphate wil get cleaved into 2 inorganic phosphates, which will help with the release of more energy).
What happens when UDP-glusoe reacts with glycogen?
UDP and a glycoegn with an extra glucose attached by a1,4 glycosidic bond will be formed. This is catalysed by glycogen synthase.