Session 4 Lecture Notes Flashcards
Approximately what is the plasma constant level for glucose?
5mmol per L
What is the store of glucose called?
Glycogen
For hypoglycaemia what is the critical level - if our plasma level drops below this it can lead to death?
0.6mmol/L
What happens in glycation?
There is the addition of glucose to proteins such as the haemoglobin protein
Where is glycogen stored? (there are 2 places)
- In the muscle= to supply the muscles only with glucose
2. In the liver = to supply the rest of the body
What are 2 benefits of storing glycogen?
- Glucose can be released rapidly from multiple sites along the polymer
- There is reduced osmotic effect by storing it as one molecule rather than multiple glucose molecules
Which bonds join chains of glucose in glycogen?
a-1-4 glycosidic bonds
Which bonds form branch points every 8-10 residues in the glycogen polymer?
a-1-6 glycosidic bonds
What is the name of the dimer at the core of the glycogen polymer?
Glycogenin
Why can’t cellulose be broken down?
Because it contains b-1-4 glycosidic bonds (not a-1-4 like in glycogen) and we don’t have the enzymes for beta
What is glycogen synthesis called?
Glycogenesis
What is the first conversion step of glycogenesis?
Glucose 6-P (from glycolysis) is converted to Glucose 1-P by the enzyme Phosphoglucomutase
What is the 2nd conversion step in glycogenesis?
Glucose 1-P + UTP + H20 is converted to UDP-glucose + 2Pi by the enzyme G1P uridyltransferase
What is the final step in glycogenesis?
Glycogen (with its residues) reacts with UDP-glucose to form [Glycogen + 1 residue of glucose] + UDP
This reaction is catalysed by the two enzymes that create glycosidic bonds (a-1-4 and a-1-6) = glycogen synthase and branching enzyme
What enzymes synthesise a-1-4 and a-1-6 bonds in glycogenesis?
- glycogen synthase (a-1-4)
2. branching enzyme (a-1-6)
What is glycogen degradation called?
Glycogenolysis
What is the first step in glycogenolysis?
Glycogen + Pi = Glucose 1-P and [glycogen -1 residue of glucose]
What are the 2 enzymes called involved in breaking down glycosidic bonds in glycogen?
- Glycogen phosphorylase (a-1-4)
2. De-branching enzyme (a-1-6)
What is the 2nd step in glycogenolysis?
Glucose 1-P is converted to Glucose 6-P by phosphoglucomutase where it is transported to the muscles or liver
What happens to Glucose 6-P in the liver (after glycogenolysis)?
Glucose 6-P is converted
to glucose by the enzyme Glucose 6-Phosphatase and glucose then transported around the blood to tissues
What happens to Glucose 6-P in the muscles (after glycogenolysis)?
It is converted to lactate and then transported back to the liver for conversion to glucose
The muscles lack the enzyme glucose 6-phosphatase so can’t break glucose 6-P directly down into glucose
What are the rate limiting enzymes in glycogenesis and glycogenolysis?
- Glycogen synthase
2. Glycogen phosphorylase
What hormones increase rate of glycogenesis and which increase rate of glycogenolysis?
Insulin = increase rate of glycogenesis (glycogen synthesis)
Glucagon + adrenaline = increase rate of glycogenolysis (glycogen degradation)
Glucagon can only act at one place to to increase glycogenolysis- where?
At the liver
It has no effect at muscles
Instead AMP allosterically activates it at muscles
Give 2 examples of glycogen storage disease and what they do
Von Gierke’s disease - glucose 6 phosphatase deficiency (so it can’t be broken down to release glucose)
McArdle disease - muscle glycogen phosphorylase deficiency (so can’t carry out glycogenolysis and person is exhausted)
What is glucose synthesis called?
Gluconeogenesis
When does gluconeogenesis start to take place?
When liver stores of glycogen have run out = an alternative source of glucose is required
What are the 3 major precursors for gluconeogenesis?
- Lactate (from anaerobic glycolysis in muscles = Cori Cycle)
- Glycerol (from TAG in adipose tissue)
- AAs (glucogenic AAs such as alanine)