In: Biology
The intravenous infusion of fructose into healthy volunteers leads to a two- to fivefold increase in the level of lactate in the blood, a far greater increase than that observed after the infusion of the same amount of glucose. (a) Why is glycolysis more rapid after the infusion of fructose? (b) Based on your answer to question (a), why is the use of fructose in place of glucose for intravenous feeding unwise?
a) The fructose is an intermediate of glucose metabolism. Aldolase B coverts fructose-1-phosphate into glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone phosphate(DHAP). Glyceraldehyde is then phosphorylated by triode kinase to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Thus fructose metabolism essentially results in intermediates of glycolysis.The fructose 1-phosphate pathway forms glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, so glycolysis more rapid after the infusion of fructose.
b) Phosphofructokinase, a key control enzyme, is bypassed. Furthermore, fructose 1-phosphate stimulates pyruvate kinase, so the use of fructose in place of glucose for intravenous feeding unwise.