Physiological Chemistry

Question 1

How do tissues know that dietary fuel is available?

Answer 1

Secretory vesicles go to the target tissues and start a signal that alters the metabolic activity of the tissue

Question 2

Why is signaling between organs important?

Answer 2

Efficient way to communicate, especially when a quick response is required

Question 3

Beta cell role in managing glucose levels

Answer 3

Detect glucose and secrete insulin

Question 4

How glucose is managed through endocrine signaling

Answer 4

Beta cells recognize an increase in glucose levels when it binds to GLUT2 and triggers the release of insulin. The insulin binds to receptors on skeletal muscle cells which activates the PI3K/AKT pathway. The intracellular GLUT4 membrane is activated and taken to the membrane of the cell so it can take glucose into the cell for energy

Question 5

What does glucagon do?

Answer 5

Increases in the fasted state (no glucose) and is released by alpha cells on islet. Glucagon triggers the cAMP-PKA pathway to transcribe an enzyme needed to break down glycogen to have glucose in the body still for energy

Question 6

Insulin/Glucagon signals

Answer 6

Maintain glucose levels in the body

Question 7

Epinephrine

Answer 7

Communicates with the adrenal gland to release adrenaline (works quickly)

Question 8

Cortisol

Answer 8

Works slowly to communicate with adrenal glands to respond to stress

Question 9

Thyroid horomones

Answer 9

Maintain the basal metabolic rate

Question 10

Anaerobic vs Aerobic respiration

Answer 10

Aerobic - glucose to pyruvate and on to TCA

Anaerobic - glucose to lactic acid so NADH can be recycled and maintain glycolysis

Question 11

RBCs and oxygen

Answer 11

RBCs take oxygen and carry via hemoglobin and deliver to other tissues. They then take CO2 back to the lungs to exhale out.

Question 12

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 12

What the body does with the drug (drug concentration vs time)

Question 13

Pharacodynamics

Answer 13

What the drug does to its target (effect vs drug concentration)

Question 14

Drug metabolism in the liver

Answer 14

Drug enters the body and is taken to the liver, where it is processed in phase I and phase II reactions to then be excreted from the body

Question 15

Phase I reactions

Answer 15

Use p450 enzymes (such as cyp3A) to alter the drug’s molecular structure to increase polarity and solubility

Question 16

Phase II reactions

Answer 16

Adds a hydrophilic molecule to conjugate with an endogenous substrate to get rid of drug. Increases polarity and solubility significantly

Question 17

Routes for drug disposal

Answer 17

Gall bladder and kidneys