Session 2: Energy Production (Carbohydrates) Flashcards
What is the general formula for carbohydrates?
(CH2O)n
What are the functions of carbohydrates? (5)
- Energy production
- Energy storage
- Building macromolecules
- Dietary fibres
- Sparring use of proteins for energy
Why are cells within RBCs and the lens of the eye dependent on glycolysis?
They lack mitochondria so unable to synthesise ATP through metabolic reactions so must rely on glucose (and the process of glycolysis) to generate ATP since glycolysis occurs in the cytosol rather than mitochondria
Where in the cell does glycolysis occur?
Cytosol of all tissue
Why are cells within neutrophils and innermost cells of the kidney medulla dependent on glucose?
They are within low O2 environment so they are unable to use mitochondria to synthesise ATP so must rely on glycolysis to produce ATP as it does not require O2 to synthesise ATP
What is sucrose?
Disaccharide made up of glucose and fructose
What is lactose?
Disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose
What is maltose?
Disaccharide made up of glucose and glucose
What is starch?
A carbohydrate storage molecule in plants, it is a polymer of glucose
What is glucagon?
A carbohydrate storage molecule in animals, it is a polymer of glucose
Why is cellulose (β1-4 bonds) not digested? What does it become instead?
The body doesn’t produce enzymes to break down the β1-4 bonds => forms a major component of dietary fibre
Which glucose transporter is regulated by insulin?
GLUT 4 - it is responsible for insulin-regulated glucose intake
Which enzymes are key in glycolysis?
Hexokinase (glucokinase in liver) & phosphofructokinase-1
What is the net synthesis of ATP to glucose molecules and why?
Net total is 2 ATP per glucose
4 ATP molecules produced per glucose molecule but 2 ATP is required for investment phase of glycolysis so 4ATP-2ATP = 2ATP per glucose
What are the key features of glycolysis (7)?
- Occurs in cystole of all tissues
- Irreversible
- Exergonic and oxidative
- Central pathway of carbohydrate catabolism
- Does not require oxygen to produce ATP
- Provides biosynthetic precursors for FA, AA and nucleotides
- 2 molecules of NADH produced per glucose molecule
What does the phosphorylation of glucose (glucose to glucose-6-phosphate) cause?
Glucose becomes negatively charged and so cannot go back across the plasma membrane - commits glucose to metabolism
Why are there so many steps to glycolysis?
- Efficient energy conservation
- Can be controlled more easily
- Gives versatility
Where is 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate produced and why is it an important intermediate?
Produced in RBCs
Regulator of haemoglobin-O2 affinity (facilitates supply of oxygen to tissues by binding to haemoglobin)
Where is glycerol phosphate produced and why is it an important intermediate (function)?
Produced in adipose tissue and liver
Important for triglyceride and phospholipid biosynthesis
Why is glucose phosphate important for lipid synthesis in adipose tissue?
Lipid synthesis requires glycolysis
What is metabolism?
Set of processes which derive energy and raw materials from diet and use them to support repair, growth and activity of the body to sustain life.
Describe catabolic pathways.
Breakdown larger molecules into smaller ones (intermediary metabolites)
Release a lot of free energy
Oxidative - releases H atoms - reducing power
Describe anabolic pathways.
Synthesise of larger molecules from intermediary metabolites
Use energy released from catabolism (ATP)
Reductive - use H released in catabolism
Why do some organic precursors feedback in metabolism pathways?
To form more building block material