Lipid disorders and metabolism Flashcards
What are the dietary lipids
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Phospholipids
Describe the sturcture of triglicerides
3 FA chains attached to a glycerol backbone by an ester bond
What are the sources for maintaining plasma TAG/FFA
> FA synthesis
Dietary lipids
TAG in adipose tissue
What processes do plasma TAG/FFA contribute to?
> Production of ketone bodies
beta-oxidation (ATP production)
Phospholipid synthesis for membranes
Stored as TAG in adipose tissue
Where are lipids digested?
Lipid digestion occurs in the small intestine
What enzymes are required for lipid digestion?
Pancreatic lipase and colipase
What is the clinical importance of enzymes used in lipid digestion?
Lipase is a target for orlistat
Orlistat acts as a lipase inhibitor, preventing fat absorption and limits calorie intake
What is the emulsifying agent required in lipid digestion?
Bile salts
Where are bile salts secreted?
Through the bile duct by the liver
What are bile salts synthesised from?
Cholesterol
What is the function of bile salts?
To emulsify fats into micelles
Increase surface area for the enzymes to work on, increasing efficiency of digestion
What are bile acids conjugated form?
Taurine/glycine
How are lipids absorbed?
As chylomicrons transported to liver, adipose tissue removed the lipid component (FA stored as TAG) leaving cholesterol-rich chylomicron remnant
When will there be more chylomicrons?
post-prandial period for absorption of dietary lipids
When will there be fewer chylomicrons
During fasting state
How is TAG transported?
In lipoproteins
How is FFA transported?
Albumin-bound
What is the purpose of lipoproteins?
To transport lipids safely
- prevents loose fatty acids acting as detergents in the circulation
What is NEFA?
Nonesterified fatty acids
Why are NEFA transported in chylomicrons?
Need to be transported in chylomicrons as they are dangerous - could break down cell walls
What is beta oxidation?
The generation of energy from fatty acids
Where does beta oxidation occur?
Within the mitochondrion
What is the function of CoA in fatty acyl-CoA
Addition of CoA to form fatty acyl-CoA
- Traps FFA within the cell (same principle as G6P)
CoA makes FFA soluble and removes the danger of detergent action
How does fatty acyl-CoA cross the inner mitochondrial membrane?
Requires carrier molecule carnitine, as mitochondrion unable to transport fatty acyl-CoA
Where can you find a high carnitine content?
In the muscle
How does carnitine transport fatty acyl-CoA across the inner mitochondrial membrane?
Carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) as catalysts
Carnitine swaps with CoA to form FA carnitine + CoA via CPT 1
This is swapped back via CPT 2