Gluconeogenesis and Fermentation Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the Gluconeogenesis and Fermentation lecture.

Glucose

A six-carbon sugar that is a primary source of energy for cells.

Pyruvate

A three-carbon molecule that is the end product of glycolysis.

Lactate

A three-carbon molecule produced from pyruvate under anaerobic conditions.

Liver

Organ where gluconeogenesis occurs to convert lactate back to glucose.

Muscle

Organ where glucose is converted to pyruvate via glycolysis.

Gluconeogenesis

Process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors.

Fermentation

Anaerobic process that regenerates NAD+ for glycolysis by reducing pyruvate to lactate or ethanol.

Cori Cycle

Cycle involving the transport of lactate from muscle to the liver, where it is converted to glucose and returned to the muscle.

Lactate Dehydrogenase

Enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction between pyruvate and lactate.

Glucan Capsule

Polysaccharide coating/biofilm produced by Streptococcus mutans, contributing to cavities.

Glucansucrase

Enzyme that breaks down sucrose into fructose and glucose, which are then used to create glucans.

Glucosyltransferase

Enzyme that makes long chains of glucose to glucans, which provide protection and nesting grounds for bacteria.

Ethanol Fermentation

Two-step irreversible process in yeast and other organisms under anaerobic conditions, converting pyruvate to ethanol.

Pyruvate Decarboxylase

Enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetaldehyde in ethanol fermentation.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of acetaldehyde to ethanol, oxidizing NADH to NAD+.

Pyruvate Carboxylase

Enzyme that bypasses pyruvate kinase in gluconeogenesis, converting pyruvate to oxaloacetate.

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK)

Enzyme that bypasses pyruvate kinase in gluconeogenesis, converting oxaloacetate to PEP.

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase-1)

Enzyme that bypasses phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) in gluconeogenesis.

Glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase)

Enzyme that bypasses hexokinase in gluconeogenesis, converting glucose-6-phosphate to glucose.