Chapter 30: The Integration of Metabolism

Chapter 30: The Integration of Metabolism

  • A review of the principal themes of metabolism is provided in this chapter, which concludes the two major sections of the text devoted to me tabolism.
    • The chapter begins with a recapitulation of the roles of the building blocks derived from fuels.
    • The regulatory mechanisms that control metabolism are reviewed.
  • The major pathways of metabolism are reviewed by the authors, as well as their principal sites of control.
    • The roles of pyruvate, acetyl CoA, andglucose 6-phosphate as key intermediates at junctions between the various metabolic pathways are discussed.
    • The major organs' metabolism is presented next.
  • The authors looked at the ways in which the body responds to certain conditions, such as the well-fed state, the early fast state, and the refed state.
    • Maintaining a blood-glucose level above 2.2 mM is one of the priorities of metabolism in starvation, which is discussed in this article.
    • The role of the hormones leptin and insulin in the regulation of calories is discussed.
    • The authors looked at the fuel choices that the body makes during exercise and how those choices differ between aerobic and anaerobic activity.
    • The chapter ends with the ways in which excess consumption can affect the metabolism of energy in the body.
  • You should be able to complete the objectives once you have mastered this chapter.

  • Discuss the pathways that lead to the rise of glucose 6-phosphate.
  • List the fuels used by the liver.
  • Discuss the changes in metabolism that occur after a long period of starvation.
  • The inhibition of carnitine acyltransferase I by malonyl CoA is an example of metabolic regulation.
  • The carnitine acyltransferase I is involved in the regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis.
  • Match the three key intermediates in the left column with their major intermediates in the right column.
    • The most direct relationships are those not separated by other key intermediates.
  • The metabolism of each organ, tissue, or cell is described in the left column.
  • Use an "S" to indicate the following metabolic processes that are stimulated by and an "I" to indicate those that are not.
  • A normal person's blood-glucose level after an overnight fast is 80 percent.
    • After a meal that is rich inCarbohydrate, it rises to about 120 g/l and then falls to the fast level.
  • Match the fuel storage forms in the left column with the ones in the right column.
  • List the pathways and sources that decrease the pro duction rate during strenuous exercise.
  • The different effects of glucagon and epinephrine in the body are due to the different properties of the phosphatases that make up the synthesis and degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.
  • Chapter 30 cAMP cascade leads to the inhibition of the phosphatase.
    • The levels of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate are decreased.
    • The formation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is stimulated by the activity of the kinase in muscle.
  • The synthesis of triacylglycerols requires glycerol 3-phosphate.
    • The lack of glycerol that is released during triacylglycerol hydrolysis can't be used in adipose cells.
    • There is need for external suppliedglucose.
  • The muscles and red cells convert pyruvate into lactone.
    • pyruvate is mostly used in the liver for gluconeogenesis.
  • The selection of the pathway depends on whether or not the fatty acids enter the Mito chondrial matrix.
    • In the fed state, the activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase is stimulated when the concentrations of citrate and ATP are high.
    • The resulting malonyl CoA, which is a precursor for fatty acid synthesis, is an important component of the oxidation process.
  • The blood has Glucose removed from it by the liver and by muscle and adipose tissue.
  • Glucagon maintains blood-glucose levels by promoting gluconeogenesis and glycogen degradation in the liver and by promoting the release of fatty acids, which partially replace glucose as the fuel for many organs.
  • In people with diabetes, the levels of the two hormones are too low, so after a meal the levels of the two hormones will be higher than in a normal person.
    • The removal of sugars from the blood will be slower and the levels of sugars in the blood will be higher.
  • Gluc cose is plentiful, even if ketone body concentrations in blood become high.
    • The brain usesglucose as its major fuel.
  • The maximal rate of ATP production is about the same as the rate ofLiver glycogen and adipose tissue fatty acids as fuels for active muscle.
    • Slow transport of the fuels from the storage sites to the muscle is likely to limit the rate.
  • The increase in NADH leads to the growth of gluconeogenesis.
    • NADPH is used by the cytochrome P450 pathway.
  • When coronary circulation is blocked, the functioning of the cardiac muscle is severely affected.
  • If the supply of oxygen to heart tissue is reduced, what are the differences between the two?
    • An infant suffering from a particular type of organic acidemia has frequent attacks of vomiting and lethargy, which are worsened by infections, fast and the consumption of fat.
    • The patient can be helped by injections of D-3-hydroxybutyrate.
    • Concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood are very low.
    • The patient has elevated concentrations of organic acids in their urine and blood.
    • Three of the acids are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate, b-methylglutaconate, and isovalerate.
    • From the evidence of the build up of these compounds, the HmG CoA is probably deficient.
  • After a serious surgical operation, patients who remain unconscious are given 100 to 150 g of glucose daily through a 5% solution.
  • A biochemist in the Antarctic is cut off from his normal food supplies and is forced to eat animal fat on a diet.
    • On the day he starts the high-fat diet, he decides to measure his own levels of urinary ketone bodies.
  • The synthesis of glucokinase is stimulated in the liver.
  • Within a few days after a fast, nitrogen excretion increases to a high level.
  • The rate of nitrogen excretion goes to a lower level after a few weeks.
    • When the body depletes of triacylglycerol stores, the rate of urea and ammonia excretion goes up to a very high level.
  • There are problems caused by vi tamin deficiencies.
  • Young men who are championship marathon runners have body fat levels as low as 4%, while casual runners have levels ranging from 12% to 15%.
  • A 70 kilogram man is expected to burn 2000 kcal of energy per day.
    • The weight of the two substances is 500 and 180.
    • The synthesis of one mole of ATP is dependent on the amount of energy generated by one mole of glucose.
    • 40% of the energy from the oxidation of glucose can be used for synthesis.
  • Explain how the increase would affect each of the pathways below.
  • In people who have missed one or two meals, the ingestion of moderate amounts of alcohol can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar.
    • There is a reduced rate of hepatic glucose synthesis, along with increases in ratios of lactate to pyruvate, of glycerol 3-phosphate to dihydroxyacetonephosphate, of glutamate to a-ketoglutarate, and of D-3-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate.
    • A well-fed person with a normal amount of glycogen in their body is less likely to experience a hypoglycemic event.
    • The rate of production is normal.
    • There are increases in the ratios of the compounds named above.
  • There is an increase in the activity of pyruvate carboxylase, which converts pyruvate to oxaloacetate.
    • There are two reasons why oxaloacetate concentrations should be increased.
    • The source of pyruvate during starvation should be named.
  • The Cori cycle is important during early phases of starvation, in which the peripheral tissues are sent to the liver for use in gluconeogenesis.
  • Oxygen is needed for terminal oxidation of acetyl CoA.
  • An alternative source of energy can be found in the form of sugar.
  • Under anaphylactic conditions, the concentration of glucose in cardiac veins will decrease relative to the levels in coronary arteries.
    • The levels of lactate in the coronary veins are higher than in the coronary arteries.
  • The inability to convert HMG CoA to acetoacetate leads to an increase in concentrations of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate, which is excreted by the cells.
  • elevation in the level of acetyl CoA leads to an increase in the concentration of HMG CoA.
  • Increased demand for blood sugar results in low blood sugar.
    • Both D-3-Hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate can be used as fuel for the brain and heart.
  • The amount of sugar given is limited to prevent the breakdown of muscle.
    • It serves as a source of energy for the brain and blood cells; otherwise, it is used to provide carbon atoms for the generation of glucose by gluconeogenesis.
  • A high-fat diet will cause an increase in acetyl CoA concentration, which in turn stimulates the production of ketone bodies.
    • The profile of ketone body production may be similar to that found during starvation because of the lack of a source of carbon.
    • The triacylglycerols in body tissue will serve as a source of energy.
  • When the concentra tions of the hexose are high, glucokinase acts to phosphorylate glucose.
    • The inability of the liver to control the levels of blood sugar is caused by the failure to synthesise sufficient quantities of glucokinase.
  • The primary source of carbon atoms for gluconeogenesis is amino acids.
    • Because the concentration of free amino acids in the tissues is limited, body proteins are broken down to provide the amino acids to support gluconeogenesis.
    • Nitrogen increases when the excretion of the amino acids is eliminated.
  • Reduction in gluconeogenesis means a reduction in the rate of oxidation of amino acids and the production of ammonia and urea.
  • The requirements cause a great increase in the rate of catabolism, with corresponding increases in oxidation and excretion.
  • A threat to life is caused when more than a kilogram per day in weight is lost.
  • Most of the vitamins and cofactors discussed in previous chapters of the text would need to be used during starvation.
    • Among the vitamins needed for those pathways are pyridoxalphosphate, riboflavin, and thiamin.
  • Palmitoyl CoA is converted to CO2 and H2O in the mitochondria.
  • It can be used to make ketone bodies.
    • HMG CoA and cholesterol can be found in the cytosol acetyl CoA.
  • It can be reoxidized through the action of a dehydrogenase or by the action of a shuttle.
  • It can be used as a source of amino groups.
    • It can be used as an amino donor in the cytosol.
    • It can be used in the cytosol to make glutamine, and it can also be used in the synthesis of new proteins.
  • The malate-aspartate shuttle serves as an electron carrier in the cytoplasm.
    • Malate can be used as a source of electrons for the generation of NADPH.
  • The larger the percentage of body fat, the larger the reserves of triacylglycerols, which are the primary source of metabolism.
    • The body's breakdown of muscle protein as an energy source is accelerated when the reserves are low.
  • Many vital body functions can be threatened by excessive muscle tissue destruction.
  • The amount of energy required to drive the synthesis of 1 mole of ATP is 7.3 kcal.
  • If 40% can be used to drive the synthesis of ATP, the oxidation of 1 mole of glucose will yield 686 kcal of energy.
    • The amount of sugar needed per day is 2000 kcal/day.
  • The normal fuel stores in the blood of a 70 kilogram man are about 250 g and 60 g. The figures show that humans can rely on stores of carbohydrate for a short time.
  • gluconeogenesis will be stimulated by an increase in oxaloacetate concentration.
  • When cit rate levels increase, the citrate is shuttled across the mitochondria, where it is a source of CoA.
    • The formation of malonyl CoA from acetyl CoA allows synthesis of palmitoyl CoA.
  • An increase in oxaloacetate concentration results in an increase in acetyl CoA concentrations, which could lead to the formation of additional cholesterol.
  • The oxidation of acetyl CoA is part of the function of the citric acid cycle.
  • Oxidation or degradation of acetyl CoA can be stimulated by an increase in oxaloacetate concentration.
  • Net oxidation reactions are suppressed by an increased NADH/NAD+ ratio because the NAD+ needed to serve as an electron acceptor is limited in concentration.
    • The conversion of lactate to pyruvate, of glycerol 3-phosphate to dihydroxyacetonephosphate, of glutamate to a-ketoglutarate, and of D-3-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate will be suppressed by an increase in NADH.
  • These compounds are converted directly into compounds like pyruvate, a-ketoglutarate, and dihydroxyacetonephosphate, all in the same pathway.
    • The lack of NAD+ in the cell would result in a low level of production of these and other compounds.
    • The acetoacetate/D-3-hydroxybutyrate pair is not involved in gluconeogenesis.
    • Terminal oxidation of these compounds would be affected by the inability to convert D-3-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate.
  • In the event of a drop in blood sugar levels, stored hepatic glycogen serves as a source of sugar.
    • After 24 to 36 hours of starvation, the body's erythropoietin levels plummet.
  • The citric acid cycle can operate at higher capacity if more acceptors of acetyl groups from acetyl CoA are provided.
    • It can oxidize the increasing amounts of acetyl CoA present in the cell.
    • Oxaloacetate needs to be elevated to provide more precursors for gluconeogenesis.
    • In order to provide moreglucose to peripheral tissues, the cells of the liver increase their rate of formation through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
    • Oxaloacetate molecule availability is the most important factor in determining gluconeogenesis.
    • alanine is a source of pyruvate during starvation.
    • Alanine and glutamine act as carriers of carbon atoms and nitrogen.
    • Alanine is converted to pyruvate by the use of another a-keto acid.
  • The synthesis of acetoacetyl CoA and b-hydroxybutyrate can only be done with limited amounts of acetyl CoA from fatty chain oxidation.
  • Carbon atoms from proteolysis would have to be added to sustain the level of gluconeogenesis.
  • The conversion of pyruvate to alanine means that the electrons that are normally consumed in the conversion of pyruvate to lactate can now be sent to the Mitochondrion.
  • The brain and muscle do not have the same amount of glucose 6-phosphatase.
    • The brain and muscle do not release glucose.
    • The key difference is that acetoacetate has little of the transferase needed to be activated.
    • The liver exports acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate to be used by heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and the brain.
  • The synthesis of triacylglycerols would be affected by a deficiency of hexokinase.
  • The von Gierke disease is characterized by a high content of glycogen in the body and a low bloodglucose level.
  • Exercise and fasting cause muscle pains in these people.
  • The synthesis of glycogen would be affected by a deficiency of glucokinase.
  • When the blood sugar level is low, the use of acetoacetate as a fuel would be affected.
  • It will be much slower than normal.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid has a low content of albumin.
  • The structure of the membranes would be disrupted.
  • 70 W is equivalent to 0.07 kJ/s.
  • Let's assume that the electron flow is from O2 to NADH.
    • The current is 61.4 A, which equates to 3.86 x 1018 electrons per second.
  • One ATP is formed for every 0.80 electron transferred.
    • A flow of 3.86 x 1020 electrons per second leads to the generation of 4.83 x 1020 ATP per second or 0.8mmol per second.
  • The body content of 50 g is equal to 0.099 mol.
    • When the body is at rest, the ATP turns over once per 125 seconds.
  • The RQ values are 1.0 (6/6) and 0.703 (51/72).
  • The RQ of a marathon runner usually goes down during the race.
    • The shift in fuel from carbohydrate to fat is reflected in the lowering of the RQ.
  • One gram of tripalmitoylglycerol is equal to 1.24mmol, and one gram of glucose is equal to 180.2mmol.
    • The H2O yield per gram of fuel is 33.3mmol (0.6 g) forglucose and 60.8mmol (1.09 g) for tripalmitoylglycerol.
    • The oxidation of this fat gives more water than the oxidation of sugar.
    • One of the advantages of triacylglycerols is that they can be stored in anhydrous form, which is similar to the way glycogen is stored.
  • A nut with a mass of 2 g has a value of 18 kcal.
    • To spend the calories provided by 10 nuts, one would have to run about 31 minutes.
  • The synthesis of glycogen and triacylglycerols would be late because of a high blood-glucose level.
  • Poor entry of sugar into cells leads to high levels of diabetes.
    • The breakdown of lipids to acetyl-CoA is caused by the impaired carbohydrate utilization.
    • The acetyl-CoA can't be converted to pyruvate orglucose because of a shortage of oxaloacetate.
    • Some of the Acetyl- CoA will accumulate in the bloodstream.
  • The brain can use available sugar in the form of glycogen in order to function.
    • The liver is able to provide its energy needs by using oxidizing fatty acids.
  • Reactions in both compartments affect electron transfer pathways.
    • NADH is produced in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
    • The glycerol-phosphate shuttle or malate-aspartate shuttle is what transports the NADH equivalents.
    • The energy needs of many reactions must be supported by the transport of the ATP produced in the mitochondria to the cytoplasm.
  • There will be synthesis and storage of triacylglycerols if there is an abundance of sugar and fat in the body.
  • The poor diet will continue to cause the individual to be deficient in proteins.
  • As important re covery reactions take place, the oxygen will serve as the ultimate acceptor of electrons.
    • During the recovery, pyruvate will be converted back into pyruvate and the production of NADH will be stimulated.
    • NAD+ will be produced by the electron-transport chain when it passes through to oxygen.
  • Chapter 30 accepts future glycolysis when needed.
    • Some of the ATP will be used to replenish the supplies of glucose and glycogen in the body.
  • The machines that are less efficient are the ones that need excess oxygen.
    • Some of the energy is lost as heat, and additional energy is used because gluconeogenesis is not a chemical reverse of glycolysis.
    • The resynthesis of glucose from lactate requires more than the production of erythropoietin.
  • There is a balance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the brain.
    • Alterations in this balance are likely to result in the different effects of ethanol.
    • The detailed mechanisms are not yet understood.
  • It is possible to attempt to fix samples under Aerobic and Aerobic conditions.
    • There could be differences in crossbridge formation for type I fibers in the presence of oxygen.