S1: Hormones, Energy Homeostasis and Obesity Flashcards
Name some uses of glucose
- Stored as glycogen
- Converted into proteins or lipids
- Metabolised to provide energy
What is glycogenesis and glycogenolysis?
Glycogenesis is the storage of glucose to glycogen (from glucose-6 phsophate)
Glycogenolysis is glycogen being broken down into glucose (from glucose-6 phsophate)
What is glycolysis and gluconeogenesis?
Glycolysis is glucose being broken down in pyruvate (from glucose-6 phsophate)
Gluconeogenesis is pyruvate (intermediate) forming glucose. It is the production of glucose from non carb sources.
What happens to pyruvate?
- It can be converted into protein
- It can be converted into fat (lipogenesis, the reverse being lipolysis) for storage
What are the 3 major metabolic pathways in the liver?
- Glucose metabolism (Glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis)
- Amino Acid metabolism (Lipogenesis, ketogenesis, gluconeogenesis)
- Fatty Acid metabolisn (Lipogenesis, keto acid formation)
What transporter can glucose be taken up into the liver by?
GLUT2 Transporter
What cycle can glucose be broken down through?
The krebs cycle (TCA cycle)
What are proteins broken down into in the liver?
Proteins can be broken down to ketoacids which can enter the Krebs cycle via ACoA.
What 2 products can you get from ACoA?
Ketogenesis into keto acids
Lipogenesis into Fatty Acids
What are fatty acids and glucose stored together as in the liver?
Triacyglycerol
What are fatty acids taken up in the liver as?
Fatty acyl-CoA
How are fatty acids transported out of the liver into the blood?
Low density lipoproteins
What is formed in the absence of glucose in the liver?
Beta oxidation stimulated by glucagon and there is formation of ketone bodies.
What are the major metabolic pathways in skeletal muscle?
- There is storage of glucose as glycogen and breakdown of glycogen (glycogenolysis) in the muscle for energy when required.
- Generation of ATP is through utilisation of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids taken up from the circulation and from the breakdown of glycogen.
- There is also storage of amino acids as muscle proteins and fatty acids as triacylglycerol in the skeletal muscle.
What is LPL?
It is a lipase transporter which breaks down triacyglycerides so they can be transported into the skeletal muscle cells
How are lipids transported in the circulation?
triacylglycerol bound to lipoprotein particles
What happens to fatty acids in the capillaries?
They are broken down to fatty acids by lipoprotein lipase (an enzyme) and absorbed into adipocytes (fat cells)
What hormone keeps blood glucose constant?
Insulin
What levels of glucose are normal?
4-6mmol
What percentage of the pancreas is exocrine tissue?
98%
Describe the exocrine function of the pancreas
It releases enzymes, bicarbonate ions and water which are released into the pancreatic duct ans transported to the small intestine for the digestion of food
What percentage of the pancreas comprises of special endocrine cells?
2%
Describe the endocrine function of the pancreas
The specialised endocrine cells are arranged in ‘islands’ and these cells are called ‘islets of Langerhans’.
They secrete insulin and glucagon which are two pancreatic hormones that regulate blood glucose levels
Explain the structure of Islets of Langerhans
The alpha cells are situated around the periphery while the beta cells make up the core and are more abundant (60%)
Beta cells: Secrete insulin
Explain the structure of Islets of Langerhans
The alpha cells are situated around the periphery while the beta cells make up the core and are more abundant (60%)
Alpha cells: Secrete glucagon
Beta cells: Secrete insulin
Glucagon and Insulin have antagonistic action meaning they have opposite functions in order to achieve regulated blood glucose levels.