Lipid metabolism Flashcards
How much energy does 1g of fat provide?
9kcal (39kJ)
How much energy is stored as triacylglycerols in a lean individual?
3000,000 kJ
Why is fat vital?
Adipose tissue protects vital organs, insulates us from cold and gives our bodies & faces their shape
How much fat can we store?
Unlike glycogen, where the amount is limited, we can theoretically store an infinite amount of fat – and in evolutionary terms , it will have been in our best interest to be efficient storers of energy
What are the main roles of lipids?
-Constituents of membranes (Cholesterol, phospholipids, sphingolipids and glycolipids)
-Sources of metabolic energy
(Triacylglycerols (storage), fatty acids
and ketone bodies)
-Hormones
(Steroids and eicosanoids)
-Other
(Bile salts and waxes)
What are the two types of fats?
Saturated or unsaturated
What are essential fatty acids
They are fats that we cannot make in the body and are usually PUFAs – that are precursors for important signalling molecules – prostaglandins, thromboxanes
What is the main function of a triacylglycerol?
Main storage from of lipids in humans
What is the main function of a phospholipidsl?
Major component of cell membranes
Examples include:
phosphatidyl cholines
phosphatidyl inositols
How are triaclglycerols synthesised?
Fatty acids activated by attachment to Coenzyme A (CoA)
Fatty acids are added to glycerol-3-P by glycerol phosphate acyltransferase
Removal of phosphate group by a phosphatase before final fatty acid addition
Either synthesised from glycerol or from dihyroxyacetone
What are the enzymes responsible for lipolysis?
1 – desnutrin (ATGL) + hormone sensitive lipase (HSL)
2 – HSL
3 – HSL + monoacylglycerol lipase
What is the process of lipolysis?
Triacylglycerol –> Diacylglycerol –> Monoacylglycerol –> Glycerol
Where are Triacylglycerols stored?
Triacylglycerols stored in fat cells (adipose tissue) and in skeletal muscle
Where does Triacylglycerol synthesis and breakdown occur?
In the cytosol
When does lipolysis occur?
Starvation, cold and exercise
What hormone controls lipolysis?
hormone-sensitive lipase
What hormones increase lipolysis and which reduce?
INCREASE
Adrenalin, noradrenalin (via β-adrenergic receptors), glucagon & growth hormone
DECREASE
Adrenalin, noradrenalin (via α2-adrenergic receptors), & insulin reduce lipolysis
What is the difference in lipolysis control in the muscle?
in muscle, control of HSL is different – AMPK is the prime controlling mechanism
Go through the regulation of adipose triacylglycerol metabolism
GPCR1 = beta adrenergic receptor, GPCR2 = alpha 2 adrenergic receptor
Stimulatory and inhibitory G – protein coupled receptor (GPCRs) modulate cAMP levels. Insulin receptor binding decreases cAMP levels by increasing activity of phosphodiesterase.
Hormone bind to the receptors which activate g proteins which activate an enzyme that converts ATP to cyclic AMP. This causes another few steps until protein kinase A is activated and therefore hormone sensitive lipase.
What are perilipins?
They are in adipose tissue and also regulate lipolysis. Under basal conditions they prevent lipolysis but under stimulation by catecholamines perilipin allows lipolysis.
How do perilipins work?
ATGL (desnutrin) and HSL are physically prevented from binding to the lipid droplet by the perilipin which surrounds it. Once phosphorylated by PKA, the perilipin is no longer able to block access of desnutrin and activated HSL (note that phosphorylation activated HSL, but inactivates perilipin, allowing increased lipolysis
How is hormone sensitive lipase regulation different in muscle during exercise?
HSL is activated by protein kinase A via adrenalin binding to β-adrenergic receptors
Elevated calcium levels activate other protein kinases e.g. protein kinase C
Raised AMP levels also activate AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) – this is the main regulator of HSL phosphorylation in active muscle
How does training chnage activation of desnutin?
Training increases the activation of desnutrin in muscle
What are the problems with fats?
Triacylglycerols and fatty acids are very hydrophobic – INSOLUBLE in aqueous environments
They need to be transported round the body in association with proteins (LIPOPROTEINS/ALBUMIN)
Transporters are also needed to transport fatty acids effectively across cellular and organelle membranes in addition to diffusion (Fatty acid binding proteins and translocases)
What happens to fatty acid transporter proteins in muscle after endurance and high intensity training?
Endurance and high intensity interval training increase levels of fatty acid transporter proteins in muscle – enhancing efficiency of fatty acid utilisation during exercise