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Block 1 > Metabolism > Flashcards

Metabolism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four classes of carbohydrates?

A

Monosaccharides

Disaccharides

Oligosaccharides

Polysaccharides

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2
Q

How can monosaccharides be classified?

A

Number of carbon atoms (triose, tetrose, pentose, hexose)

Isomer (D- or L-isomer)

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3
Q

In which isomeric form are most important sugars?

A

D-isomers

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4
Q

What is an isomer?

A

The same atoms but bonded together in a different 3D arrangement

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5
Q

What do glucose, fructose and galactose have in common?

A

They are all hexoses (6 carbons) which different arrangements of the same atoms

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6
Q

What do pentoses and hexoses normally form?

A

Cyclic molecules

Pentose - 5 membered rings
Hexoses - 6 membered rings

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7
Q

Name 2 important pentose monosaccharides

A

Ribose

Deoxyribose

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8
Q

Name 3 important hexose monosaccharides

A

Glucose

Galactose

Fructose

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9
Q

Name 4 important polyoligosacchardies

A

Starch

Cellulose

Glycogen

Dextrin

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10
Q

What is starch?

A

Branched polymer of glucose.

Formed either by a-1,4 (and) a-1,6 glycosidic bonds

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11
Q

What is cellulose?

A

Linear polymer of glucose

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12
Q

What is glycogen?

A

Extensively branched polymer of glucose

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13
Q

What is dextrin?

A

Branched oligomer of glucose

Breakdown product of starch and glycogen

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14
Q

What are the four main types of biologically important lipids?

A

Fatty acids

Triglycerides

Cholesterol

Cholesterol esters

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15
Q

What are fatty acids?

A

Hydrocarbon chains of various lengths

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16
Q

Name 2 differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

A

Saturated
No double bonds between C atoms
Solid at room temperature

Unsaturated
At least one double C bond
Liquid at room temperature

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17
Q

What makes a triglyceride?

A

1 Glycerol

3 Fatty acid chain

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18
Q

Describe cis and trans fatty acids

A

Applies to unsaturated fat

Movement around the double C bond

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19
Q

Describe cis fatty acid

A

Loosely packed together, causes fatty chain to ‘kink’

Remember cis like cissy - floppy wrist, kink, 2 C,s 2 of the same

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20
Q

Describe trans fatty acid

A

Tightly packed together, chain continues on

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21
Q

What is a phospholipid?

A

A phosphate group attached to one or more fatty acid chains

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22
Q

How are phosphate groups attached to fatty acid chains?

A

Via glycerol or sphingosine

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23
Q

What is a glycolipid?

A

Carbohydrate (oligosaccharide) attached to one or more fatty acid chains

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24
Q

How are phosphate groups attached to fatty acid chains in modified lipids?

A

Via glycerol or sphingosine

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25
Q

What characteristic of phospholipids makes them essential?

A

Polar/non-polar nature, integral for membrane structure

26
Q

Why are glycolipids important?

A

Cell surface recognition e.g. A and B blood groups

27
Q

What are ketone bodies?

A

Small 4-carbon fatty acids formed by oxidation of fatty acids in the liver, especially during fasting

28
Q

Why are ketone bodies important?

A

They provide energy substrates for the brain during fasting

29
Q

How are ketone bodies linked to T1DM?

A

There is an excessive formation of ketone bodies during fasting which can result in dangerously high levels in the blood causing DKA

30
Q

What creates the smell on the breath in DKA?

A

Acetone formed as a result of the breakdown of ketone bodies and exhaled

31
Q

Give 5 roles of lipids

A

Fuels (fatty acids, ketone bodies)

Energy storage (triglycerides)

Transport between tissues (triglycerides)

Structural components of cell membranes (phospholipids)

Chemical messengers (diglycerides, steroids)

32
Q

What type of process consumes ATP?

A

Anabolic process

33
Q

What type of process produces ATP?

A

Catabolic process

34
Q

Name the 3 parts of ATP

A

Adenosine
Ribose
3 phosphate chain

35
Q

Describe the role water has in making ATP from ADP

A

ADP –> ATP = water is lost

ATP –> ADP = water is added

36
Q

How is energy released from ATP?

A

By breaking up the high energy bonds between phosphate groups

37
Q

Where is the only place ketones can not be used as an energy source?

A

The liver (synthesised there)

They are importantly used by the brain as substitute for glucose when it is not available

38
Q

How is glucose stored in the liver?

A

As glycogen (a polymer of glucose)

39
Q

Describe the relationship between fatty acids and glucose, and explain why this is important

A

Fatty acids can be formed from glucose, but not vice versa.

Glucose can be stored as lipids, but then can only be metabolised as lipids.

This is to save energy so fatty acids and glucose are not being used at the same time, and provides an energy storage solution

40
Q

Name the 2 types of glucose transporters and state whether they are active or passive transporters

A

GLUT - passive

SGLT - active

41
Q

What is the main difference between GLUT and SGLT transporters?

A

SGLT can transport Na+ as well as glucose

42
Q

Which GLUT transporter has the highest affinity and where is it found?

A

GLUT-1

RBCs
Brain

43
Q

Which GLUT transporter has the lowest affinity and where is it found?

A

GLUT-2

Pancreatic B-cell
Liver

44
Q

Why is it beneficial to have a low affinity GLUT-2 transporter on a pancreatic B-cell and in the liver?

A

Because it will only uptake glucose if there is an excess of it in the blood.

This means that insulin will not be released prematurely into the blood stream by pancreatic B-cells, and the liver will only start to store glucose as glycogen if there is an excess of it in the blood, meaning more is readily available.

45
Q

Which GLUT transporter is insulin sensitive?

46
Q

What is a lipid and what is it made from?

A

Glycerol
Fatty acids

Insoluble in water

47
Q

What is the difference between mono- and poly-unsaturated fats?

A

Monounsaturated fatty acids have one C=C bond

Polyunsaturated have more than one C=C bond

48
Q

What are the bonds in a triglyceride called?

How are they formed?

A

Covalent bonds

Condensation reactions

49
Q

What is the difference between a triglyceride and a phospholipid?

A

Phospholipids only have 2 fatty acid tails, and have replaced the 3rd fatty acid with a phosphate group

50
Q

Sucrose is made of:

A

Glucose and fructose

51
Q

Lactose if made of:

A

Glucose and galactose

52
Q

Maltose is made of:

A

Glucose and glucose

53
Q

What 2 substances make up ketone bodies?

A

Acetoacetic acid

B-hydroxybutyric acid

54
Q

What is the role of carbohydrates?

A

Energy source

55
Q

What is the role of lipids

A

Energy source

Membrane components

Hormonal signalling

56
Q

What is the role of proteins?

A

Enzymatic catalysis

Antibodies

Hormonal signalling

Structural proteins

Contractile proteins

Gas transport

57
Q

What is the role of nucleic acids?

A

Information storage/transmission

58
Q

Where can glucose be used as an energy source?

A

Most tissues - obligatory for brain and RBCs

59
Q

Where can fatty acids be used as an energy source?

A

Most tissues - minimal in neurons as energy source

60
Q

Where can amino acids be used as an energy source?

A

Not used by many fuel types - but are used by fast dividing cells e.g. enterocytes and cancer cells

Block 1 (13 decks)

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