3.2 Carbohydrate and fatty metabolism

• What is metabolism?

  All biochemical reactions in an organism
• What are the two types of reactions included in metabolism?

  Anabolic and catabolic reactions
• What is anabolism?

  Building larger molecules from smaller ones
• What is catabolism?

  Breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones
• What is glycogen?

  Storage form of glucose
• Where is glycogen stored in the body?

  In the liver and muscles
• What is glycolysis?

  Breakdown of sugar to pyruvic acid
• What happens to glycolysis when blood glucose increases?

  It increases
• What is glycogenolysis?

  Breakdown of glycogen to glucose
• What is gluconeogenesis?

  Conversion of non-carbohydrates to glucose
• What substances can be converted to glucose in gluconeogenesis?

  Proteins or fats
• When does gluconeogenesis increase?

  When blood glucose decreases significantly
• What is glycogenesis?

  Process of converting glucose to glycogen
• What are non-carbohydrate sources that can be converted to glucose?

  Amino acids, glycerol, lactate
• Are fatty acids used as non-carbohydrate sources for glucose?

  No, fatty acids are not used
• How is glycogen structured compared to other carbohydrates?

  Glycogen is much more branched
• What is β-oxidation?

  Process of breaking down fatty acids
• What does β-oxidation involve?

  Splitting of glucose molecules
• What are the key processes in carbohydrate metabolism?

  • Glycolysis: Breakdown of sugar to pyruvic acid
  • Glycogenolysis: Breakdown of glycogen to glucose
  • Gluconeogenesis: Conversion of non-carbohydrates to glucose
  • Glycogenesis: Conversion of glucose to glycogen
• What are the differences between anabolism and catabolism?

  • Anabolism: Builds larger molecules from smaller ones
  • Catabolism: Breaks down complex molecules into simpler ones
• What is the relationship between blood glucose levels and glycolysis?

  • Glycolysis increases with rising blood glucose levels
  • Glycolysis decreases with falling blood glucose levels
• What are the sources for gluconeogenesis?

  • Non-carbohydrate sources include:
  • Proteins (amino acids)
  • Glycerol
  • Lactate
• What is the significance of glycogen structure?

  • Glycogen is highly branched
  • Allows for rapid mobilization of glucose