Week 1 Endocrine Lectures Flashcards
How long are the quantities of ATP present in tissues sufficient for?
A few seconds only unless replenished
How can ATP in tissue be replenished?
- Creatine phosphate (muscle - short term)
- Anaerobic metabolism of CHO to lactate
- Aerobic metabolism of CHO, fat and/ or protein (amino acids) (in mitochondria)
What are examples of carbohydrates in the diet?
- Polysaccharides • Starch • Cellulose - Disaccharides • Maltose • Sucrose • Lactose = glucose and galactose linked - Monosaccharides • Glucose • Fructose
What does D-glucose refer to?
the way a solution of glucose will rotate a plane of polarised light - to the right (dextro)
What does a-D-glucose refer to?
Whether the OH group is below (a) or above (B) the C1 atom
Summarise the process of carbohydrate digestion?
Saliva breaks it up partially, stomach does nothing (basically all about digesting proteins), then into the small intestine where enzymes released by the pancreas begin to work. (95% of pancreas is about digestion).
What is the glycaemic index?
shows how quickly different foods affect your blood sugar
Digestibility of starch
What are some reasons that starches may be digested slowly?
- trapped in intact starch granules/plant cell wall structure (e.g. raw cereals, vegetables)
- resistant to amylase as 3D structure too tightly packed (some processed foods, raw/cold potato)
- associated with dietary fibre (slows absorption/digestion as gut contents become viscous (e.g. beans/legumes)
- CHO foods containing high levels of fat may have delayed gastric emptying
What is the transport form of carbohydrate in humans?
Glucose
What is the storage form of carbohydrate in humans?
Glycogen
What tissues in the body are dependent on a constant supply of glucose?
Brain and erythrocytes
Why is glucose required in the brain?
It has a specific architecture meaning that lipids cant cross into the brain
a lot of neurotransmitters are also made from glucose
What are plasma glucose levels tightly regulated within?
4-5mM (fasted state)
8-12mM after a meal
What are the principle regulators of glucose homeostasis?
Insulin (after a meal for storage)
Glucagon (in fasted state to release glucose)
Where can glucose be synthesised to buffer plasma glucose levels?
The liver and possible the kidney in starvation
How is glucose transported into cells down the concentration gradient?
by facilitated diffusion
- GLUT1-14 (1-5 well characterised in humans 6-14 not so much)
How is glucose transported into cells against the concentration gradient?
using energy provided by cotransport of sodium (SGLT1 and 2)
Where is glucose required to be transported against the concentration gradient?
Required in intestine to absorb from gut lumen and kidney, to reabsorb from filtrate
Where are SGLT-1/2 transporters found?
Intestinal mucosa, kidney tubules
How do SGLT-1/2 transporters work?
Co-transport one molecule of glucose or galactose with sodium ions.
Does not transport fructose
Where is GLUT-1 found?
Everywhere
How does GLUT-1 work?
Transports glucose (high affinity) and galactose, not fructose
Where is GLUT-2 found?
Liver, pancreatic beta cell, small intestine, kidney
How does GLUT-2 work?
Transports glucose, galactose and fructose. Low affinity high capacity transporter
Where is GLUT-3 found?
Brain, Placenta, Testes
How does GLUT-3 work?
Transports glucose (high affinity) and galactose, not fructose. It is the primary transporter for neurons
Where is GLUT-4 found?
Skeletal and cardiac muscle and adipocytes
How does GLUT-4 work?
GLUT-4 is insulin responsive. It has a high affinity for glucose
Where is GLUT-5 found?
Small intestine, sperm
What does GLUT-5 transport?
Only fructose
Why does the kidney require SGLT-1/2?
Because this is where absorption and reabsorption of glucose takes place
What are pentoses used for?
Making DNA and RNA
What is the first step for all processes involving glucose?
Phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate - this gives it a negative charge
Why must glucose be phosphorylated as the first step?
This traps glucose in the cell - it cannot be transported out
What is the phosphorylation of glucose catalysed by?
Hexokinases I-IV
What is glucokinase?
Hexokinase IV
Where is glucokinase (hexokinase IV) expressed?
Expressed by b-cells of the pancreas and the liver
How does glucokinase (hexokinase IV) behave?
High Km (low affinity for glucose)
Where is hexokinase I-III expressed?
All tissues (except b-cells of pancreas and liver)
How do hexokinase I-III behave?
Have low Km (high affinity for glucose)
What inhibits hexokinases I-III?
G6P
What is glycolysis?
The breakdown of glucose to yield energy (ATP)
Where does glycolysis take place?
Occurs in the cytoplasm of the cells
What inhibits phosphofructokinase (PFK)?
ATP and citrate