Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

CJ: UoL Medicine Semester Two (ESA2) > MEH - Lipid Transport > Flashcards

MEH - Lipid Transport Flashcards

1
Q

Name all the different types of lipids

A
  • triacylglycerol (di- and monoacylglycerol)
  • fatty acids
  • cholesterol (and cholesterol esters)
  • phospholipids
  • vitamins A, D, E and K
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the normal total cholesterol range in plasma?

A

Less than 5 mmol/L

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the difference bwteen phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol?

A

They are both phospholipids, but phosphatidylcholine has a choline head while phosphatidylinositol has an inositol head

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the difference between a liposome and a micelle?

A

Liposomes are spherical but have a bilayer sheet, while micelles have a single layer of phospholipids with their heads facing outwards and tails inwards in a sphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where does the body get cholesterol from?

A

Some is obtained from the diet, but most is synthesised in the liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is cholesterol used for in the body?

A
  • essential component of membranes (modulates fluidity)
  • precursor of steroid hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, oestrogen)
  • precursor of bile acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How is cholesterol transported around the body?

A

Esterified with a fatty acid by lethicin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) or acyl CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase, then transported around the body as a cholesterol ester

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How are lipoproteins structured?

A

Phospholipid monolayer with a small amount of cholesterol integrated. They also have integral and peripheral apolipoproteins in their membranes (eg. apoC, apoE, apoA, apoB)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the cargo carried by lipoproteins?

A
  • triacylglycerols
  • cholesterol esters (cholesterol linked to fatty acids)
  • fat soluble vitamins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the five classes of lipoproteins?

A
  • chylomicrons
  • VLDL (very low density lipoproteins)
  • IDL (intermediate density lipoproteins)
  • LDL (low density lipoproteins)
  • HDL (high density lipoproteins)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which classes of lipoproteins are the largest?

A

Particle diameter is inversely proportional to density, so chylomicrons are the largest and HDL is the smallest.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When are chylomicrons present in the blood?

A

Normally only 4-6h after a meal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is lipoprotein density obtained?

A

Flotation ultracentrifugation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the six major classes of apolipoproteins?

A

A, B, C, D, E and H

ApoB and apoAI are important ones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

True or false - apolipoproteins are all situated on top of the membrane?

A

False - they can be integral (passing through the phospholipid bilayer) or peripheral (resting on top)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the roles of apolipoproteins?

A

Structural:
- packaging water insoluble lipid

Functional:

  • co-factor for enzymes
  • ligands for cell-surface receptors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How are chylomicrons metabolised?

A
  • chylomicrons loaded in small intestine and apoB-48 added before entering lymphatic system
  • travel to thoracic duct which empties into left subclavian vein, acquire two new apoproteins (apoC and apoE) once in blood
  • apoC binds to lipoprotein lipase (found on adipocytes and muscle), releasing its fatty acids to cells
  • when triglycerides at around 20%, apoC dissociates and ‘chylomicron remnant’ remains
  • this returns to the liver. LDL receptor on hepatocytes binds apoE and the remnant is taken up by receptor mediated endocytosis
18
Q

What is lipoprotein lipase?

A

An enzyme that hydrolyses triacylglycerol in lipoproteins. It requires ApoC-II as a cofactor, and is found attached to the surface of endothelial cells in capillaries

19
Q

What happens to the remaining contents of chylomicrons once they are returned to the liver?

A

Lysosomes degrade them into fatty acids, cholesterol and glycerol

20
Q

Where is VLDL made and why?

A

VLDL is made in the liver for the purpose of transporting triacylglycerol to other tissues.

21
Q

How is VLDL metabolised?

A

Binds to lipoprotein lipase on endothelial cells in muscle and adipose and becomes depleted of triacylglycerol. In muscle, released fatty acids are taken up and used for energy production. In adipose, fatty acids are used for re-synthesis of triacylglycerol and stored as fat

22
Q

How are IDL molecules formed?

A

If VLDL content depletes to around 30%, the molecule becomes an IDL particle. These can be taken up by the liver or rebind to the LPL enzyme to further deplete TAG content.

23
Q

How are LDL particles formed?

A

When IDL content drops to around 10%, it loses apoC and apoE and becomes an LDL particle

24
Q

What is the primary function of LDL?

A

To provide cholesterol from the liver to peripheral tissues

25
Q

Why are LDLs not cleared efficiently by the liver?

A

They do not have apoC or apoE so they cannot be cleared efficiently by the liver (liver LDL-receptor has a high affinity for apoE)

26
Q

What is the clinical relevance of LDL not being cleared effectively by the liver?

A

The half-life in blood is longer than other types of lipoproteins, meaning that it is more susceptible to oxidative damage. Oxidised LDL is taken up by macrophages that can transform to foam cells and contribute to formation of atherosclerotic plaques

27
Q

How does LDL enter cells?

A
  • cells requiring cholesterol express LDL receptors on plasma membrane
  • apoB-100 on LDL acts as a ligand for the receptors, and the receptor-LDL complex is taken into the cell by endocytosis into endosomes.
  • fuse with lysosomes for digestion to release cholesterol and fatty acids
  • LDL receptor expression controlled by [cholesterol] in cell
28
Q

How is HDL formed?

A
  • HDL synthesised by liver and intestine
  • can also ‘bud off’ from chylomicrons and VLDL as they are digested by LPL
  • free apoA-I can also acquire cholesterol and phospholipid from other lipoproteins and cell membranes to form nascent-like HDL
29
Q

How does HDL mature?

A
  • nascent HDL accumulates phospholipids phospholipids and cholesterol from cells lining blood vessels
  • hollow core progressively fills and particle becomes more globular

Note - transfer of lipids does not require enzyme activity

30
Q

What is reverse cholesterol transport?

A

HDL can remove cholesterol from cholesterol-laden cells and return it to the liver. This is important as it reduces likelihood of foam cell/atherosclerotic plaque formation. ABCA1 protein facilitates transfer of cholesterol to HDL, it is then converted to cholesterol ester by LCAT

31
Q

What happens to mature HDL?

A
  • taken up by liver via specific receptors.
  • cells requiring additional cholesterol can utilise ‘scavenger receptor’ to obtain it cholesterol from HDL
  • HDL can exchange cholesterol ester for TAG with VLDL via action of ‘cholesterol exchange transfer protein’ (CETP)
32
Q

What is the transport function of chylomicrons?

A

Transport dietary triacylglycerol from the intestine to tissues such as adipose tissue

33
Q

What is the transport function of VLDL?

A

Transport of triacylglycerol synthesised in liver to adipose tissue for storage

34
Q

What is the transport function of LDL?

A

Transport of cholesterol synthesised in liver to tissues

35
Q

What is the transport function of HDL?

A

Transport of excess cholesterol from cells to liver for disposal as bile salts and to cells requiring additional cholesterol

36
Q

What is hyperlipoproteinaemia?

A

Raised plasma level of one or more lipoprotein classes (there are 6). Caused by defects in lipoprotein lipase, LDL receptors and apoE - others have unknown causes

37
Q

Give some clinical signs of hypercholesterolaemia

A
  • xanthelasma (yellow patches on eyelids)
  • tendon xanthoma (nodules on tendon)
  • corneal arcus (obvious white circle around eye)
38
Q

How does raised serum LDL lead to atherosclerosis?

A
  • Oxidised LDL is recognised and engulfed by macrophages
  • lipid laden macrophages (‘foam cells’) accumulate in intima of blood vessel walls to form a fatty streak
  • this evolves into atherosclerotic plaque
  • grows and encroaches on lumen of artery, causing angina
  • plaque ruptures and triggers acute thrombosis by activating platelets and clotting cascade
  • leads to stroke and MI
39
Q

What is the first line of treatment of hyperlipoproteinaemias?

A

Changed diet and lifestyle factors:

  • reduce cholesterol and saturated lipids in diet, increase fibre intake
  • increase exercise
  • stop smoking to reduce cardiovascular risk
40
Q

How are hyperlipoproteinaemias treated with drugs?

A
  • STATINS: reduce cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase
  • BILE SALT SEQUESTRANTS: bind bile salts in GI tract, forces liver to produce more bile acids using more cholesterol

CJ: UoL Medicine Semester Two (ESA2) (87 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions