Liver Flashcards
List 6 things which are stored in the liver
- Vitamins A, B12, D, E and K
- Iron
What are fat soluble vitamins, and list them
- Soluble in fat, stored in the body for long periods of time.
- A, D, E and K
Describe the journey of vitamin B12 in the body
- Attached to R-protein initially to protect from HCl.
- Released by pancreatic proteases.
- Binds to intrinsic factor (produced by parietal cells) for absorption.
Where does iron enter the GI system?
Duodenum
How is iron carried in the body?
By transferrin
Where is liver sent to after entering the body?
- Bone marrow
- Muscle
- Stored in liver
Describe the process of absorption of iron
- Fe3+ converted to Fe2+
- Enters intestinal epithelial cells DMT1
- Released from cell via ferroportin
Define xenobiotics
Substances absorbed across lungs/skin, ingested unintentionally as part of food/drink, or intentionally in drugs.
What are microsomal enzymes?
Found on sER of liver/kidney/lungs, catalyse majority of drug biotransformations.
List 4 types of drug biotransformations that can occur during drug metabolism
- Hydrolysis
- Oxidation
- Reduction
- Glucuronidation
Is it microsomal or non-microsomal enzymes that can be induced by drugs/diet?
Microsomal
What are non-microsomal enzymes?
Found in cytoplasm/mitochondria of hepatocytes. Catalyse non specific drug biotransformations.
Is it microsomal or non-microsomal enzymes that display polymorphism?
Non-microsomal
List 3 features of phase 1 reactions in drug metabolism
- Addition or exposure of functional groups.
- Small increase in hydrophilicity.
- Non-synthetic
List 4 features of phase 1 reactions in drug metabolism
- Conjugation reactions
- Large increase in hydrophilicty
- Are biosynthetic
- Covalent bonds form
What are Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and what is their function?
Enzymes of the superfamily of haem-containing proteins. Primarily responsible for metabolism of drugs.
Define protein turnover
Continuous degradation and resynthesis of cellular proteins
What are the 2 types of protein degradation?
- Lysosomal and non-lysosomal
Where does lysosomal protein degradation take place?
Reticulo-endothelial system of liver
What is the input and output of nitrogen?
- Input: In the form of amino acids
- Output: NH3 usually converted to a non-toxic excretory product
What is a positive nitrogen balance and what is a common cause?
- Increased Nitrogen levels e.g. during pregnancy
What is a negative nitrogen balance and what is a common cause?
- Decreased Nitrogen levels e.g. malnutrition
What are the 2 types of malnutrition?
- Marasmus: Insufficient calorie intake
- Kwashiorkor: Insufficient protein intake (but sufficient calorie intake)
What is the role of alanine?
Principal ammonia scavenger/transporter in muscle
Describe the glucose-alanine cycle
- Glutamate in muscles picks up ammonia (from amino acids from protein stored in muscle.)
- ALT transaminates the amino group in glutamate, forming alpha-ketoglutarate.
- The amino group is added to pyruvate (formed from glycolysis) to form alanine.
- Alanine is transported to blood, then picked up by the liver. The reverse reaction occurs (alpha-ketoglutarate to glutamate.)
- The ammonia goes on to form urea via the urea cycle. The pyruvate forms glucose by gluconeogenesis and then enters the blood and is transported to muscle for the cycle to start again.
Describe the urea cycle.
- Arginine —> Ornithine (by arginase, produces urea)
- Ornithine —> Citrulline (takes in ammonia + CO2)
- Citrulline —> Arginine (takes in ammonia)