Liver Biochemistry Flashcards
What are pit cells of the liver?
They are natural killer cells that protects the liver against virus and tumor cells.
What are the functions of the liver?
- receiving, distribution and recycling center of the body
- lipid biosynthesis and management (TG, phospholipids, steroids)
- Protein biosyntehsis - albumin, IgG
- Nitrogen metabolism - Urea cycle
- Waste management - Xenobiotic reaction (compounds with no nutritional value)
- Bilirubin metabolism
- Fuel management
The liver has no basement membrane between endothelial cells and hepatocytes, has gaps and fenestrations between endothelial cells, and low portal blood pressure. What is the purpose of these structural features?
They allow greater access and increased contact between liver and blood.
Describe the features of the organelles found in a hepatocytes.
- Well developed plasma membrane with endocytic and exocytic system.
- Well developped ER (smooth and rough)
- hepatocytes are metabolically active
- Numerous mitochondria
- Numerous lysosomes
What is the building block for the synthesis of isoprenoids, including steroids and lipid soluble vitamins?
Isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) which are made up of three acetyl CoA.
name some sources of Acetyl CoA?
- Oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate
- beta oxidation of fatty acids
- breakdown of amino acids
How do Acetyl CoA go from the mt to the cytoplasm?
Via citrate shuttle.
What is the backbone structure of most steroids?
A sterane ring
It requires six units of IPP to form a tetracyclic _ which is the backbone of most steroids.
Isopentyenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)
You are given a sterane ring and you’re asked to add side chains and groups to make an cholesterol. What side chains and groups would you add and where to turn the sterane ring into a cholesterol?
Sterene rings comes with 17C. you would add the following:
- two methyl groups at C10 and C14
- One OH- group at C3
- One double bond between C5 and C6
- A side chain of 8C at C17.
Cholesterol is a component of plasma membrane. What other compounds are cholesterol a precursor of?
- Bile acids and bile salts
- Vitamin D
- Steroid hormones (progesterone, aldosterone, cortisol, testosoterone, and estradiol)
A weight lifter takes in 500 mg of cholesterol daily. Is he above or below the daily recommended intake?
Above. Daily recommended intake is less than 300 mg.
If you’re on a cholesterol free diet, would your body be able to produce the bile salts, vitamin D, and other steroid hormones that the body needs to make?
Yes. The body produces about 1g of cholesterol daily.
In order to make a cholesterol molecule, how many Acetyl CoA, ATP, NADPH, H+ and O2 are needed?
18 AcetylCoA 18 ATP 16 NADPH 16 H+ 4 O2
Write out the chemical formula of cholesterol synthesis.
18 AcetylCoA + 18 ATP + 16 NADPH + 16 H+ + 4O2 –>
1 Cholesterol + 16 NADP+ + 18ADP + 18 Pi
Cholesterol Synthesis is done in two phases. What is each phase responsible for?
Phaes I is responsible for mkaing thte backbone for the strene ring isopentyenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)
Phase II is involved in all the cyclization and making the tetracyclic strene ring and adding all the hydrocarbon chains.
Cholesterol synthesis starts off with 2 Acetyl CoA coming together to make Acetoacetyl CoA and then a third acetyl Coa comes in to make what intermediate?
hydroxymethylgluterol CoA (HMG COA)
List the intermediates starting at acetyl CoA in making cholesterol.
Acetyl CoA –> Acetoacetyl CoA –> HMG CoA –> mevalonate –> IPP –> Squalene –> Lanosterol –> Cholesterol.
What is the rate limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis and is the enzyme that is involved?
Rate limiting step is going from HMG COA to Mevalonate. The enzyme is HMG reductase.
What are some positive mediators that will push HMG CoA to proceed to Mevalonate?
- Insulin
2. Thyroxine