Carbohydrate Metabolism

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to carbohydrate metabolism from the lecture notes.

Metabolism

The interconversion of chemical compounds in the body and the pathways taken by individual molecules.

Anabolic pathways

Pathways involved in the synthesis of larger and more complex compounds from smaller precursors.

Catabolic pathways

Pathways involved in the breakdown of larger molecules, commonly producing energy and reducing equivalents.

Amphibolic pathways

Pathways that act as links between anabolic and catabolic processes, such as the citric acid cycle.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH.

Gluconeogenesis

The process of forming glucose from noncarbohydrate precursors.

Pentose phosphate pathway

A metabolic pathway that generates NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate from glucose 6-phosphate.

NADPH

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; a reducing agent used in biosynthetic reactions and for countering oxidative damage.

Fructose metabolism

Metabolism of fructose, primarily occurring in the liver, converting it to glycolytic intermediates.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

An enzyme complex that converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.

Citric acid cycle

The metabolic cycle that generates energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate and free glucose.

Glycogenesis

The synthesis of glycogen from glucose.

Glucose homeostasis

The regulation of blood glucose levels within a narrow range.

Regulatory enzymes

Enzymes that control the rates of metabolic pathways, including hexokinase and phosphofructokinase.

Glucagon

A hormone that stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Insulin

A hormone that promotes glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in tissues.

Aerobic glycolysis

The conversion of glucose to pyruvate in the presence of oxygen.

Anaerobic glycolysis

The conversion of glucose to lactate in the absence of oxygen.

Lactic acid fermentation

The anaerobic process that converts pyruvate into lactic acid, regenerating NAD+ for glycolysis.

Cori cycle

The metabolic pathway that recycles lactate produced by anaerobic glycolysis back into glucose in the liver.

Glucose-6-phosphate

A glucose derivative that is a key metabolic intermediate in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and glycogen metabolism.

2,3-bisphosphoglycerate

A glycolytic intermediate that plays a role in regulating oxygen release from hemoglobin.

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate

A key intermediate in the glycolytic pathway, regulated by phosphofructokinase.

Hexokinase

An enzyme that phosphorylates glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate.

Glucokinase

A liver enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose in the presence of high glucose levels.

Pyruvate kinase

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, generating ATP.

Fructose 6-phosphate

An intermediate in glycolysis that can be converted to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy currency of the cell, used to drive various metabolic processes.

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)

A nucleotide that functions in energy transfer as a product of ATP hydrolysis.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ )

A coenzyme that functions in redox reactions, accepting electrons to form NADH.