Galactose Metabolism Overview
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Questions and Answers

What primarily distinguishes glycogen from fat as an energy storage molecule in animals?

  • Glycogen contains more energy per molecule compared to fat.
  • Glycogen is stored in a soluble form in the bloodstream.
  • Glycogen can be metabolized into glucose, whereas fat cannot. (correct)
  • Glycogen can be converted into fatty acids.
  • Which statement about α-granules in the liver is true?

  • They are exclusively filled with lipids.
  • They are protein-rich granules that release glucose slower than β-granules. (correct)
  • They increase in number after a 24-hour fast.
  • They are smaller than β-granules and release glucose rapidly.
  • What is the primary function of glycogen stored in the liver?

  • To provide immediate energy to skeletal muscles.
  • To supply energy during prolonged fasting.
  • To store excess fat for long-term energy use.
  • To maintain blood glucose homeostasis. (correct)
  • During glycogenesis, what is required for the synthesis of glycogen?

    <p>An activated glucose precursor and a protein primer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the branched structure of glycogen benefit its function in glucose storage?

    <p>It allows for the rapid release of large quantities of glucose without increasing osmolarity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What enzyme deficiency is primarily responsible for the accumulation of galactose and subsequent galactosemia?

    <p>Galactokinase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary treatment approach for galactokinase deficiency?

    <p>Remove galactose and lactose from the diet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pathway primarily utilizes fructose in the body?

    <p>Glycolysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contributes to the development of cataracts in the lens regarding galactose accumulation?

    <p>Accumulation of galactitol</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which enzyme has a low affinity for fructose, leading to its limited phosphorylation?

    <p>Hexokinase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary dietary source of galactose?

    <p>Lactose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which enzyme is responsible for converting galactose to galactose-1-phosphate?

    <p>Galactokinase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the enzyme galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase?

    <p>It is the rate-limiting enzyme in galactose metabolism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition arises from the deficiency of galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase?

    <p>Classical galactosemia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the end product of the reaction catalyzed by UDP-hexose 4-epimerase?

    <p>UDP-glucose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What metabolic pathway becomes active in the liver after 4 to 5 years of life?

    <p>Galactose 1-phosphate pyrophosphorylase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of increased galactose levels in the blood?

    <p>Increased insulin secretion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is galactose not considered an essential nutrient?

    <p>It can be synthesized from glucose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the active form of skeletal glycogen phosphorylase?

    <p>Glycogen phosphorylase a</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What triggers the conversion of phosphorylase b to phosphorylase a in muscle?

    <p>Epinephrine and glucagon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which substance signals for muscle contraction by activating phosphorylase b kinase?

    <p>Ca2+</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PP1) do to glycogen phosphorylase?

    <p>Removes phosphoryl groups, converting it to the less active form</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does glucose affect glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver?

    <p>It binds to an allosteric site, promoting dephosphorylation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)?

    <p>Catalyzes the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase a</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when insulin is present regarding GSK3 activity?

    <p>It deactivates GSK3 and activates PP1</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does elevated levels of AMP in the muscle have on glycogen metabolism?

    <p>It activates phosphorylase, speeding up glucose release</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process does glucagon stimulate in the liver?

    <p>Glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What must occur before GSK3 can phosphorylate glycogen synthase?

    <p>Casein kinase II must first phosphorylate glycogen synthase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of aldose reductase in the sorbitol pathway?

    <p>It reduces glucose to sorbitol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tissue types exhibit high activity of aldose reductase in uncontrolled diabetes?

    <p>Lens, retina, nerve cells, and kidney.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence does the accumulation of sorbitol in cells primarily lead to?

    <p>Osmotic effects causing swelling of the cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the defect in essential fructosuria?

    <p>Deficiency of hepatic fructokinase.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens in hereditary fructose intolerance?

    <p>Fructose 1-phosphate accumulates, inhibiting glycogen phosphorylase.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What test results would indicate essential fructosuria?

    <p>Positive Benedict's and Seliwanoff's tests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about amino sugars is correct?

    <p>They serve as constituents of GAGs, glycolipids, and glycoproteins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary treatment approach for essential fructosuria?

    <p>Restriction of dietary fructose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Galactose Metabolism

    • Dietary Source: Milk and milk products are the primary source of galactose.
    • Hydrolysis: Lactase, found in the intestinal mucosal cells, breaks down lactose into galactose and glucose.
    • Lysosomal Degradation: Lysosomal degradation of glycoproteins and glycolipids also produces galactose.
    • Liver Metabolism: Almost all galactose metabolism occurs in the liver.
    • Galactose Tolerance Test: This test assesses liver function by measuring the body's ability to process galactose.
    • UDP-Galactose: UDP-galactose is the active form of galactose used in various synthetic reactions.

    Galactose Metabolism Steps

    • Step 1: Galactokinase Reaction
      • Galactokinase phosphorylates galactose to galactose-1-phosphate.
    • Step 2: Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyltransferase
      • This is the rate-limiting enzyme in galactose metabolism.
      • Galactose-1-phosphate reacts with UDP-glucose to form UDP-galactose and glucose-1-phosphate.
    • Step 3: Epimerase Reaction
      • UDP-hexose 4-epimerase converts UDP-galactose to UDP-glucose.
    • Step 4: Alternate Pathway
      • Galactose 1-phosphate pyrophosphorylase, active after 4-5 years of age, directly produces UDP-galactose.
      • UDP-galactose can be epimerized to UDP-glucose.

    Disorders of Galactose Metabolism

    • Classical Galactosemia:
      • Deficiency of galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase.
      • Rare, congenital disease in infants.
      • Inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder.

    Salient Features of Classical Galactosemia

    • Galactose-1-Phosphate Accumulation: Galactose-1-phosphate accumulates in the liver, inhibiting galactokinase and glycogen phosphorylase.
    • Hypoglycemia: Galactose cannot be converted to glucose, leading to hypoglycemia.
    • Insulin Secretion: Elevated galactose levels increase insulin secretion, further lowering blood glucose.
    • Galactosemia and Galactosuria: Impaired metabolism results in increased galactose in the blood (galactosemia) and urine (galactosuria).
    • Bilirubin Metabolism: Bilirubin uptake and conjugation are reduced.

    Galactokinase Deficiency

    • Enzyme Deficiency: Defect in the enzyme galactokinase.
    • Galactosemia & Galactosuria: Results in galactosemia and galactosuria.
    • Dulcitol Formation: Dulcitol (galactitol) is formed.
    • Rare Cataracts: Cataract development is uncommon.
    • Treatment: Dietary removal of galactose and lactose.

    Fructose Metabolism

    • Dietary Sources: Fruits, fruit juices, honey, and sucrose are dietary sources of fructose.
    • Hydrolysis: Sucrase hydrolyzes sucrose in the intestine.
    • Absorption: Fructose is absorbed by facilitated transport and delivered to the liver via the portal blood.
    • Conversion to Glucose: The majority of fructose is converted to glucose.

    Biomedical Importance of Fructose

    • Energy Source: Fructose is easily metabolized and provides energy.
    • Seminal Fluid: Seminal fluid is high in fructose, which spermatozoa use for energy.
    • Diabetic Cataracts: Fructose metabolism through the sorbitol pathway might contribute to cataract formation in diabetics.

    Fructose Metabolism Steps

    • Phosphorylation:
      • Hexokinase has a low affinity for fructose.
      • Fructokinase, present in the liver, kidney, muscles, and intestine, phosphorylates fructose to fructose-1-phosphate.
    • Aldolase B Cleavage: Aldolase B cleaves fructose-1-phosphate into glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP).
    • Glyceraldehyde Phosphorylation: Triokinase phosphorylates glyceraldehyde to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.
    • Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis: DHAP and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate enter glycolysis or gluconeogenesis.

    Sorbitol/Polyol Pathway

    • Glucose to Fructose: Converts glucose to fructose via sorbitol.
    • Increased Activity in Uncontrolled Diabetes: The sorbitol pathway is more active in uncontrolled diabetes.
    • Aldose Reductase: Aldose reductase reduces glucose to sorbitol using NADPH.
    • Sorbitol Dehydrogenase: Sorbitol dehydrogenase oxidizes sorbitol to fructose using NAD+.

    Sorbitol Pathway in Diabetes Mellitus

    • Increased Glucose Entry: In uncontrolled diabetes, high amounts of glucose enter cells independent of insulin.
    • Aldose Reductase Activity: Cells with high intracellular glucose levels (lens, retina, nerve cells, kidney) have high aldose reductase activity and NADPH supply.
    • Sorbitol Accumulation: Efficient conversion of glucose to sorbitol occurs due to high aldose reductase activity.
    • Low Sorbitol Dehydrogenase Activity: Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity is low or absent in these cells.
    • Sorbitol Accumulation: Sorbitol cannot easily exit the cell membrane and accumulates.
    • Osmotic Effects: Sorbitol's hydrophilic nature causes osmotic effects, leading to cell swelling.
    • Pathological Changes: Sorbitol accumulation contributes to diabetic complications.

    Defects in Fructose Metabolism

    • Essential Fructosuria:

      • Deficiency of hepatic fructokinase.
      • Fructose is not converted to fructose 1-phosphate.
      • Fructose is excreted in urine.
      • Benedicts and Seliwanoff's tests are positive in urine.
      • Treatment: Limiting dietary fructose.
    • Hereditary Fructose Intolerance:

      • Autosomal recessive disorder.
      • Deficiency of aldolase-B.
      • Fructose-1-phosphate cannot be metabolized.
      • Fructose-1-phosphate accumulates and inhibits glycogen phosphorylase.
      • Liver glycogen accumulation and hypoglycemia occur.

    Symptoms of Hereditary Fructose Intolerance

    • Vomiting:
    • Loss of Appetite:
    • Hepatomegaly:
    • Jaundice:
    • Possible Death: If liver damage progresses.
    • Fructose in Urine:
    • Treatment: Restricting dietary fructose.

    Amino Sugars

    • Hydroxyl Group Replacement: One or more hydroxyl groups are replaced by amino groups in monosaccharides.
    • Examples: D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, mannoseamine, sialic acid.
    • Components: Constituents of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), glycolipids, and glycoproteins.
    • Presence in Oligosaccharides and Antibiotics: Found in some oligosaccharides and antibiotics.

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    Description

    This quiz covers key aspects of galactose metabolism, including its dietary sources, hydrolysis, and liver functions. It also explains the steps involved in galactose metabolization, such as the roles of galactokinase and galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. Test your knowledge on this essential metabolic pathway!

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