4b. Biochemistry - ATP production Flashcards

1
Q

What does ATP stand for?

A

Adenosine triphosphate

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2
Q

What is ATP?

A

The energy currency of the body
(the body has to make it before it can use it)
Captures energy released by reactions in the body

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3
Q

How is ATP structured?

A

3 phosphate groups

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4
Q

Where is the captured energy stored?

A

In high energy oxygen-phosphate bonds

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5
Q

What happens when water is added to ATP?

A

One phosphate group is removed, releasing energy via hydrolysis reaction

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6
Q

Which mineral is always present in ATP?

A

Magnesium

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7
Q

What function does magnesium play in ATP?

A

Binds to phosphate groups

Holds the molecule in a slightly curved shape that aids the loss of phosphate - releasing energy

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8
Q

Why does ATP need magnesium?

A

Without it, ATP isn’t biologically active so it’s difficult to release energy

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9
Q

What is a symptom of magnesium deficiency?

A

Low energy

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10
Q

In which foods can magnesium be found?

A

Avocado
Green veg
Nuts
Seeds

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11
Q

What are the functions of ATP?

A
Capture energy
Drive body reactions
Fuel movement
Transport substances across membranes (active transport)
Cell division
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12
Q

What is the function of energy carriers in ATP production?

A

Temporarily capture the energy released so it can be converted into ATP later

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13
Q

What are the two main energy carriers?

A

NAD

FAD

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14
Q

Which minerals and amino acids are needed to make NAD?

A

Vit B3
Aspartic acid
Tryptophan

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15
Q

What does NAD become once it’s trapped energy?

A

NADH

traps a hydrogen

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16
Q

Which vitamin is needed to make FAD?

A

Vit B2

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17
Q

What does FAD become once it’s trapped energy?

A

FADH2

traps 2x hydrogen

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18
Q

How do NAD and FAD trap energy?

A

They sweep in and steal electrons and a hydrogen (or two) from glucose (or fats)

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19
Q

What is the process of getting ATP from carbohydrates called?

A

Cellular respiration

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20
Q

What are the steps involved in cellular respiration?

A
  1. Glycolysis
  2. Formation of Acetyl CoA
  3. Krebs cycle
  4. Electron transport chain
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21
Q

What happens during glycolysis?

A

Glucose is split into 2 pyruvates

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22
Q

Where does glycolysis occur?

A

In the cytosol

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23
Q

What energy is trapped during glycolysis?

A
4 ATP (-2 for the production)
2 NADH
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24
Q

Which micronutrients are needed for glycolysis?

A

Magnesium

Vit B3

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25
Q

Does glycolysis require O2?

A

No

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26
Q

What happens during glycolysis if O2 is present?

A

NADH is recycled in the electron transport chain and turned into ATP

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27
Q

What happens during glycolysis if O2 isn’t present?

A

NADH can’t be recycled but reacts with pyruvate, turning it into lactic acid
(fermentation)

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28
Q

How is Acetyl CoA formed?

A

Pyruvates enter the mitochondria inner wall

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29
Q

What is essential to help the pyruvates enter the mitochondria?

A

Vit B5

carrier molecule

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30
Q

Which nutrients are needed to help the pyruvate lose a carbon molecule?

A

Vit B1

Lipoic acid

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31
Q

How many carbons are in Acetyl CoA?

A

2

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32
Q

What energy is trapped during the process of making Acetyl CoA?

A

2 NADH

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33
Q

What is the Krebs Cycle?

A

Series of reactions where Acetyl CoA is modified by enzymes to release as much energy as possible

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34
Q

What is the Krebs Cycle also known as?

A

Citric Acid Cycle

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35
Q

Where does the Krebs Cycle occur?

A

In the mitochondrial matrix

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36
Q

Which nutrients are required for the Krebs Cycle to happen?

A

Magnesium
Manganese
Iron
Vits B1, B2, B3

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37
Q

What can block the enzymes during the Krebs Cycle?

A

Heavy metals - aluminium, mercury

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38
Q

How much energy is made during the Krebs Cycle?

A

2 ATP
6 NADH
2 FADH2

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39
Q

What happens during the electron transport chain?

A

Energy trapped in the NADH and FADH2 are turned into ATP with the help of 4x enzyme complexes

40
Q

What is essential for the electron transport chain to happen?

A

O2

41
Q

What makes up the complex 1 co-factor?

A

Iron

Sulphur

42
Q

What makes up the complex 2 co-factor?

A

CoQ10

43
Q

What makes up the complex 3 co-factor?

A

Iron

44
Q

What makes up the complex 4 co-factor?

A

Copper

45
Q

Where is CoQ10 stored?

A

In the mitochondria

46
Q

What can deplete CoQ10 levels?

A

Statins

47
Q

What functions does CoQ10 have?

A
Antioxidant
(reduces free radical damage)
Co-factor for complex 2 in the electron transport chain
Slows down ageing
Inhibits arterial LDL oxidation
48
Q

Examples of food sources for CoQ10

A
Meat
Poultry
Fish
Nuts
Sesame seeds
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Oranges
Strawberries
49
Q

What can cause hypoxia?

A
Pollution
Stress
Lack of exercise
Smoking
Obesity
50
Q

How can patients be better at oxygenating their bodies?

A
Exercise regularly (3-5 times a week)
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
Get outdoors
Optimise dietary iron intake
Improve desk posture
51
Q

What can damage the mitochondria?

A

Free radicals
Alcohol
Medical drugs
Environmental toxins

52
Q

How do medical drugs and alcohol damage mitochondria?

A

They increase free radicals
Decrease antioxidants
Deplete key nutrients

53
Q

What implications does mitochondrial damage have to the production of energy?

A

Compromises the electron transport chain

54
Q

Which pathologies are linked to poor mitochondrial functioning?

A

Fibromyalgia
T2D
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Start of cancer

55
Q

Ways to support mitochondrial health

A

Reduce toxic load
Increase nutrient co-factors
Support liver detoxification and elimination
Increase production of glutathione using sulphur and selenium

56
Q

Can fats be used for energy in the absence of sufficient carbs?

A

Yes

57
Q

How is fat converted to energy?

A

Lipases split triglycerides from adipose tissue into fatty acids and glycerol
Fatty acids are transported to liver
Body uses a process called beta-oxidation to convert them into molecules of Acetyl CoA
(Then follows Kreb Cycle as per carbs)

58
Q

Why do fats yield more energy than carbs?

A

Due to longer fatty acid chains

59
Q

Which nutrients are needed for the fatty acids to get into the mitochondria?

A

Vit B5
Magnesium
Carnitine

60
Q

What is beta-oxidation?

A

The process where fatty acids are broken down into Acetyl CoAs
(ready to go into Krebs Cycle)

61
Q

Which nutrients are needed for beta-oxidation?

A

Vit B2
Vit B3
Sulphur

62
Q

Can the brain use fatty acids for energy if carbs are in short supply?

A

No

63
Q

What energy source does the brain use if carbs are in short supply?

A

Ketone bodies

64
Q

How are ketone bodies produced?

A

The mitochondria of liver cells converts Acetyl CoA into ketone bodies

65
Q

Examples of ketone bodies

A

Acetone
Acetoacetic acid
Beta-hydroxybutyrate

66
Q

What can ketone bodies also be formed from?

A

Protein

67
Q

What is the production of ketones called?

A

Ketogenesis

68
Q

What is the body state of forming ketones called?

A

Ketosis

69
Q

When can ketosis occur?

A

High fat/low carb diets

Fasting

70
Q

What is ketoacidosis?

A

When ketones form in excessively high amounts

71
Q

In which pathologies is ketoacidosis common?

A

DM

Alcoholism

72
Q

Why is ketoacidosis harmful?

A

Acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate are acid so if they’re present in large amounts, blood pH drops

73
Q

How can ketoacidosis be detected?

A
Smelling breath
(smells like nail varnish remover due to acetone)
74
Q

In which pathologies is ketosis seen as beneficial?

A

Parkinson’s
AZD
Cancer
Epilepsy

75
Q

Why is ketosis beneficial in epilepsy?

A

Increases the amount of GABA in the brain

76
Q

Why is ketosis beneficial in cancer?

A

Cancerous cells rely on glucose for their metabolism and in ketosis there is none

77
Q

What is fasting?

A

Abstinence from food for a specific period of time

78
Q

Why can fasting be beneficial?

A

Prevents body from expending energy digesting food
Allows body to heal/regenerate
Increases energy levels
(as fats yield more energy than carbs)

79
Q

Examples of key types of fasting

A

Intermittent
Veg juice fasting
Juice fasting
Water fasting

80
Q

How are proteins converted into energy?

A

Carbon parts of amino acids can be broken down to generate ATP or they can be used to make glucose (gluconeogenesis)

81
Q

What must be removed from amino acids to help with degradation?

A

Nitrogen

82
Q

Which nutrients are important co-factors in the removal of nitrogen from amino acids?

A

Vit B3

Vit B6

83
Q

What must amino acids lose to be able to enter the Krebs Cycle?

A

Their amine (NH2) group

84
Q

What does the removal of the amine group (NH2) create?

A

Ammonia (NH3)

85
Q

What does most ammonia, created by the removal of an amine group, create?

A

Urea

86
Q

What is gluconeogenesis?

A

The formation of new glucose from non-carb sources

87
Q

Examples of gluconeogenesis

A

Pyruvate
Lactic acid
Glycerol
Some amino acids

88
Q

Where does gluconeogenesis happen?

A

Liver

Kidneys (to lesser extent)

89
Q

Which nutrient is needed for gluconeogenesis?

A

Biotin

90
Q

Where do most adults get their energy from (%)?

A

47% carbs
38% fat
15% protein

91
Q

Where do fasting adults get their energy from?

A

Glycogen
Then fat
Then protein

92
Q

Where is glucose derived from?

A

Carbs

93
Q

Where are fatty acids derived from?

A

Fat metabolism

94
Q

Where are ketone bodies derived from?

A

Fat metabolism

Amino acid metabolism

95
Q

Where are amino acids derived from?

A

Protein

96
Q

What must a naturopathic practitioner remember when looking at energy production?

A

All body processes are driven by the Vital Force
An illness or pathology is a blockage or insufficient of Vital Force
Need to establish why Vital Force is blocked