In: Biology
Fatty Acid Degradation
a) Cells with decreased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity are more sensitive to oxidative stress because?
b) What cellular conditions typically enhance fatty acid degradation?
c) What molecule transports fatty acids into the mitochondria?
d) Hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate are both ketone bodies derived during the degradation of fatty acids. How are ketone bodies used by the body?
a) Glucose 6- phosphatase is an enzyme produced in body by maintaining NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) levels. And NADPH then maintains the levels of glutathione that helps in protecting red blood cells from oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species(ROS). hence if its level are decreased then NADPH levels will also decrease and cell will be more prone to oxidative damage.
b)- Heart failure, Ischaemic heart disease, diabetic cardiomyopathies are major leading causes of fatality in which there is an incraese in fatty acid degradation.
c) - Firstly long chain fatty acids are converted into fatty acyl carnitine in cytoplasm by action of enzyme malonyl Co-A(present on mitochondrial membrane).THen carnitine translocase transfers it from cytoplasm to mitochondrial matrix where it undergoes fatty acid oxidation.
d) - ketone bodies can be used as a sorce of energy by oxidation in mitochondria producing 22ATP and 2 GTP molecules. Hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate undego citric acid cycle and produce NADH & FADH which are source of energy.