Miscellaneous 3

Question 1

What is the difference between a glucogenic and a ketogenic amino acid?

Answer 1

Glucogenic amino acids: the carbon skeletons of glucogenic amino acids can be
converted into glucose

Ketogenic amino acids: the carbon skeletons of ketogenic amino acids can be
converted into ketone bodies

Question 2

What metabolic reactions can glucogenic carbon skeletons be used in? How can the glucogenic carbon skeleton be converted into glucose?

Answer 2

Glucogeneic carbon skeletons such as oxaloacetate can be used in the CAC.

OA can also be converted into pyruvate and then convert into glucose via gluconeogenesis.

Question 3

What metabolic reactions can ketogenic carbon skeletons be used in? How can the ketogenic carbon skeleton be converted into ketone bodies?

Answer 3

Ketogenic carbon skeletons can be converted into either acetyl CoA (or acetoacetyl CoA).

Acetyl CoA can be used as input for the ketogenesis reaction that makes ketone bodies.

Can also be used to begin the CAC to start the central metabolic pathway.