Question: Role of the triacyl glycerol cycle.  Summarize the cycle referring to Figure 19.9. What role does the cycle play in metabolism?  Here are some infromation:  Metabolic integration within the human body depends on the redistribution of metabolites, ions, and hormones by the circulatory system. This complex network consists of ∼150,000 km of blood vessels (from major veins and arteries to microcapillaries) that recycle 6 L of blood every minute throughout the body. The circulatory system links together the major tissues and organs of the body in such a way that biochemical pathways in different cells share metabolites, ensuring that the metabolic efficiency of the whole organism is greater than the sum of its parts. This process of maintaining optimal metabolite concentrations and managing chemical energy reserves in tissues is called metabolic homeostasis. This term describes steady-state conditions that apply to a wide variety of physiologic parameters. Metabolic homeostasis is affected by physical activity, psychological stress, timing and extent of feeding, and tissue dysfunction. The liver is the control center of this metabolic network and plays a crucial role in regulating metabolite flux among tissues and organs under normal homeostatic conditions. The six primary functions together required to maintain metabolic homeostasis under normal conditions are illustrated in figure 19.9:  The primary role of the liver in this metabolic network is to export glucose, ketone bodies, and triacylglycerols to the peripheral tissues for use as metabolic fuel. The brain requires a constant input of glucose, one of the body’s most precious metabolites. Though considered to be the most vital human organ, the brain is also an energy drain on the metabolic system. Cardiac muscle uses fatty acids and ketone bodies for most of its energy needs but also uses small amounts of glucose. The exchange of fatty acids and triacylglycerols between the liver and adipose tissue is an ongoing process called the triacylglycerol cycle, which maintains circulation of high-energy fatty acids, as described shortly. Skeletal muscle uses glucose and fatty acids derived from both the liver and dietary sources for ATP synthesis. In turn, skeletal muscle exports lactate back to the liver to complete the Cori cycle during times of prolonged physical exertion (see Figure 14.23). The amino acids glutamine and alanine transport excess nitrogen obtained from protein degradation in the muscle to the liver and kidneys for excretion as nitrogen waste in the form of urea. Metabolite exchange between tissues is critical to optimizing available energy stores at the physiologic level. For example, the brain requires a constant supply of glucose to ensure high-fidelity neuronal transmissions, and skeletal muscle must have enough glycogen to permit rapid muscle contraction in response to imminent danger or to obtain food. Similarly, adipose tissue must be able to control the release and storage of triacylglycerols obtained from the diet to manage this high-energy metabolic fuel effectively. An important component of physiologic energy homeostasis is the triacylglycerol cycle, which is an interorgan process that continually circulates fatty acids and triacylglycerols between adipose tissue and the liver. Under homeostatic conditions, ∼75% of the fatty acids released from adipocytes into the blood is returned to adipose tissue as triacylglycerols through the systemic route. Theetriacylglycerol cycle provides an important homeostatic function by maintaining energy-rich fatty acids in circulation so that they can be used by peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle

Biochemistry
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ISBN:9781319114671
Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
Publisher:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
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Question: Role of the triacyl glycerol cycle.  Summarize the cycle referring to Figure 19.9. What role does the cycle play in metabolism

Here are some infromation:  Metabolic integration within the human body depends on the redistribution of metabolites, ions, and hormones by the circulatory system. This complex network consists of ∼150,000 km of blood vessels (from major veins and arteries to microcapillaries) that recycle 6 L of blood every minute throughout the body. The circulatory system links together the major tissues and organs of the body in such a way that biochemical pathways in different cells share metabolites, ensuring that the metabolic efficiency of the whole organism is greater than the sum of its parts. This process of maintaining optimal metabolite concentrations and managing chemical energy reserves in tissues is called metabolic homeostasis. This term describes steady-state conditions that apply to a wide variety of physiologic parameters. Metabolic homeostasis is affected by physical activity, psychological stress, timing and extent of feeding, and tissue dysfunction. The liver is the control center of this metabolic network and plays a crucial role in regulating metabolite flux among tissues and organs under normal homeostatic conditions. The six primary functions together required to maintain metabolic homeostasis under normal conditions are illustrated in figure 19.9: 

  1. The primary role of the liver in this metabolic network is to export glucose, ketone bodies, and triacylglycerols to the peripheral tissues for use as metabolic fuel.

  2. The brain requires a constant input of glucose, one of the body’s most precious metabolites. Though considered to be the most vital human organ, the brain is also an energy drain on the metabolic system.

  3. Cardiac muscle uses fatty acids and ketone bodies for most of its energy needs but also uses small amounts of glucose.

  4. The exchange of fatty acids and triacylglycerols between the liver and adipose tissue is an ongoing process called the triacylglycerol cycle, which maintains circulation of high-energy fatty acids, as described shortly.

  5. Skeletal muscle uses glucose and fatty acids derived from both the liver and dietary sources for ATP synthesis. In turn, skeletal muscle exports lactate back to the liver to complete the Cori cycle during times of prolonged physical exertion (see Figure 14.23).

  6. The amino acids glutamine and alanine transport excess nitrogen obtained from protein degradation in the muscle to the liver and kidneys for excretion as nitrogen waste in the form of urea.


Metabolite exchange between tissues is critical to optimizing available energy stores at the physiologic level. For example, the brain requires a constant supply of glucose to ensure high-fidelity neuronal transmissions, and skeletal muscle must have enough glycogen to permit rapid muscle contraction in response to imminent danger or to obtain food. Similarly, adipose tissue must be able to control the release and storage of triacylglycerols obtained from the diet to manage this high-energy metabolic fuel effectively. An important component of physiologic energy homeostasis is the triacylglycerol cycle, which is an interorgan process that continually circulates fatty acids and triacylglycerols between adipose tissue and the liver. Under homeostatic conditions, ∼75% of the fatty acids released from adipocytes into the blood is returned to adipose tissue as triacylglycerols through the systemic route. Theetriacylglycerol cycle provides an important homeostatic function by maintaining energy-rich fatty acids in circulation so that they can be used by peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle

CO₂ +
+
Oxaloacetate → Pyruvate H₂O
Kidneys
a-Ketoglutarate Glucose -
NH₂
Excreted
Amino
acids
- Urea
Glycogen
Urea +
Amino
acids
Protein
Cori cycle
Alanine-glucose
cycle
Lactate
Amino
acids
1
Protein Glucose
2
Glucose
ATP
►
MA
→Pyruvate
7
Lactate Dihydroxyacetone
phosphate
Brain
Glycerol-3-P
Glycerol
5
Fatty acid
Pyruvate Acetyl-CoA
Glycogen
Liver
Acetyl-CoA
Pyruvate
Glucose
Ketone
bodies
Acetyl-CoA
ATP
Fatty acid
Triacylglycerol
LpL
Triacylglycerol
cycle
-Glycerol+
Skeletal
muscle
CO, + HO
LpL
3
Glucose
Pyruvate
Acetyl-CoA.
Fatty acid
Heart
LpL
Glycerol
Glucose
ATP
Dihydroxyacetone
phosphate
Glycerol-3-P
Glycerol
CO₂
+
H₂O
Adipose
tissue
Fatty acid Triacylglycerol
Figure 19.9 The flux of metabolites between major
tissues in the human body under normal homeostatic
conditions is shown. The liver serves as the metabolic
hub of the body and coordinates the exchange of
metabolites between major tissues and organs. Glucose
and triacylglycerols are the primary export products of tl
liver under normal physiologic conditions and are used a
sources of energy for oxidative phosphorylation in most
tissues. Triacylglycerols in the blood are hydrolyzed by
the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LpL) on the surface of
endothelial tissue to release free fatty acids and glycerol
into nearby tissues as shown here. Amino acids, ketone
bodies, and lactate are usually found at relatively low
levels in the blood, but they can be very important
metabolites at times of limited food availability or intens
physical activity. See the text for details about the six
enumerated functions that are required to maintain
metabolic homeostasis.
Transcribed Image Text:CO₂ + + Oxaloacetate → Pyruvate H₂O Kidneys a-Ketoglutarate Glucose - NH₂ Excreted Amino acids - Urea Glycogen Urea + Amino acids Protein Cori cycle Alanine-glucose cycle Lactate Amino acids 1 Protein Glucose 2 Glucose ATP ► MA →Pyruvate 7 Lactate Dihydroxyacetone phosphate Brain Glycerol-3-P Glycerol 5 Fatty acid Pyruvate Acetyl-CoA Glycogen Liver Acetyl-CoA Pyruvate Glucose Ketone bodies Acetyl-CoA ATP Fatty acid Triacylglycerol LpL Triacylglycerol cycle -Glycerol+ Skeletal muscle CO, + HO LpL 3 Glucose Pyruvate Acetyl-CoA. Fatty acid Heart LpL Glycerol Glucose ATP Dihydroxyacetone phosphate Glycerol-3-P Glycerol CO₂ + H₂O Adipose tissue Fatty acid Triacylglycerol Figure 19.9 The flux of metabolites between major tissues in the human body under normal homeostatic conditions is shown. The liver serves as the metabolic hub of the body and coordinates the exchange of metabolites between major tissues and organs. Glucose and triacylglycerols are the primary export products of tl liver under normal physiologic conditions and are used a sources of energy for oxidative phosphorylation in most tissues. Triacylglycerols in the blood are hydrolyzed by the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LpL) on the surface of endothelial tissue to release free fatty acids and glycerol into nearby tissues as shown here. Amino acids, ketone bodies, and lactate are usually found at relatively low levels in the blood, but they can be very important metabolites at times of limited food availability or intens physical activity. See the text for details about the six enumerated functions that are required to maintain metabolic homeostasis.
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