Exam 2 Material Flashcards
(113 cards)
hemicellulose
Glycan
Forms hydrogen bonds with cellulose microfibrils to form a matrix/network
Long linear backbone composed of 1 type of sugar (glucose, xylose, mannose) but short side chains are heterogeneous
lignin
Not a carbohydrate
Present in the cell wall, content increases with age of plant
Typically not digestible
Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF)
After plant samples are washed in a neutral detergent solution, NDF is what remains (Van Soest Method)
Represents the structural cell wall components of the plant (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose)
Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF)
After samples are washed in an acid detergent solution, ADF is what remains (Van Soest Method)
Represents the least digestible plant cell wall components, including cellulose and lignin
Therefore NDF-ADF=hemicellulose
what is fiber
The portion of the diet that cannot be digested by the ANIMAL (excludes microbes):
- Cellulose
- Hemicellulose
- Lignin
- Etc…
- -Note that much of it is cell wall components
breakdown of carbohydrates by microbes
Microbes can break down alpha- AND beta- linked carbohydrates
They prefer alpha-linked because they are easy to break down, but can break down beta-linked carbohydrates present (which are plentiful in high NDF/ADF diets)
The process of carbohydrate breakdown is called FERMENTATION
what is fermentation
Conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions
fermentation by microbes
volatile fatty acids are produced from microbial fermentation of carbohydrates
most important VFA are
Acetic Acid (or acetate) CH3COOH Propionic Acid (or propionate) CH3CH2COOH Butyric Acid (or butyrate) CH3CH2CH2COOH
ruminal production of VFA
Total rate of production and concentration of VFA are directly related to intake of fermentable organic matter
Profile of VFA produced is dependent on feed profile
ruminal absorption of VFA
Taken up by rumen epithelium and transported by passive diffusion
Rate of absorption determined by:
Concentration in rumen fluid (most important)
Rumen fluid pH
VFA chain length
fate of VFAs after they are absorbed into the bloodstream
Propionic acid: converted to GLUCOSE
Butyric acid: converted to beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) for fatty acid synthesis
Acetic acid: converted to Acetyl CoA for fatty acid synthesis
other sites of microbial fermentation of carbohydrates
We have just learned how microbes ferment carbohydrates to produce VFAs in the rumen, but where else do microbes have this same activity? The colon (especially the cecum) Other non-rumen pregastric chambers (like in the hamster, vole, kangaroo, hippopotamus, hoatzin, etc)
carbohydrate digestion in the large intestine
Microbes live in the large intestine of every animal
These microbes act just like those in the rumen and break down alpha AND beta-linked carbohydrates to VFAs
VFAs are absorbed across the wall of the large intestine
Remember that absorption of nutrients from the large intestine is very inefficient in some animals so is more important for some animals (cecal fermenters) than others
digestion and absorption of alpha-linked carbohydrates by the animal
So we are talking about digestion of which carbohydrates?
- ALL animals have the capacity to digest alpha linked carbohydrates, but some animals rely on it more than others
- Many enzymes secreted by the animal that contribute to hydrolysis
- -Digest starch and glycogen (both alpha linked “storage” polysaccharides)
- -Any alpha linked di-, tri-, oligo- saccharides
what is the dominant VFA produced from cellulose fermentation
acetate
proprionate
butyrate
methane
Acetate
important of carbohydrates to animals
The ultimate source of energy for most animal cells: GLUCOSE
Major source of energy in the diet
Is a higher proportion relative to other sources in herbivore diet than carnivore diet
importance of glucose as a nutrient
Blood glucose: most important vehicle for post-absorptive carbohydrate metabolism
Sources of blood glucose vary with species, time after feeding
non-diet sources of glucose that the animal can use
The diet provides an important source of glucose; however, there are other sources of glucose available to animals via:
- Glycogen breakdown (Glycogenolysis) in the liver
- Glucose synthesis (Gluconeogenesis) in the liver and kidneys
gluconeogenesis
synthesis of glucose from non-hexose precursors
Features:
-Occurs mainly in liver, also in kidneys
-Nonruminants: rate varies inversely with rate of glucose absorption, precursors are of endogenous origin
-Continuous in ruminants…what gluconeogenic precursor did we learn about that would be crucial for these animals?
carbohydrates in animals
mainly glucose and glycogen in animals
glycogen
Form of glucose storage in animals
Same as the starch in plants
Is stored in muscle (~2% of mass) and liver (up to 8% of mass)
-Less than 1% of weight of animal is carbohydrate
Straight chain of alpha1,4 linked glucoses
Further chains branching off by alpha1, 6 bond
metabolic fates of glucose
Catabolism -Glycolysis→ lactate -Oxidation→ Co2 and H2O Anabolism -Glycogen synthesis -Lipid synthesis
what is a protein
chain of amino acids