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Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2002). In normal state, the glucose transporter has a low value of KM for
the glucose, meaning it is saturated under in most conditions. This allows the brain to be
provided with a constant supply of glucose. Unlike glucose and ketone, fatty acids do not serve
as a fuel for the brain. This is because they are bound to albumin in the plasma and do not
transverse the blood-brain barrier.
Table 30.2Fuel metabolism in starvation
Amount formed or consumed in 24 hours (grams)
Fuel exchanges and consumption
3d day
40th day
Glucose
100
40
Ketone bodies
50
100
50
40
Adipose-tissue lipolysis
180
180
Muscle-protein degradation
75
20
Glucose
150
80
Ketone bodies
150
150
Fuel mobilization
One type of muscle in the human body are the skeletal muscles. They are built for aerobic
metabolism and prefer to use fat as a source of energy (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2013). But
during the fasting state, the skeletal muscle release two types of amino acids called alanine and
glutamine. These two amino acids play a major role in metabolism and are presented in high
concentrations in blood plasma. In the fasting state, the muscle tissue lack the enzymes to
convert ammonia into urea (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2002). Instead, alanine transaminase
transfers the amino group to pyruvate to form alanine. This then allows the muscle tissues to
produce a large amount of alanine by the transfer of pyruvate. Alanine is then released by the
muscle tissue into the blood stream where it is absorbed by the liver. Lastly, the pyruvate is
converted into glucose by gluconeogenesis and the amino group of alanine is converted into the
urea by the urea cycle (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2013).
when glycogen runs out, the body will break down fat for energy. It is very important for the
kidney to have sufficient energy source because its last resort after using fat will be energy in
proteins. And when it gets to that point, the body will no longer be fasting, but starving and lead
to kidney failure.
Glycogen Breakdown by Phosphorylase and Phosphoglucomutase
Skeletal muscles also utilize hormones (specifically derived from tyrosine) to covalently
modify phosphorylase b to phosphorylase a for quick degradation of glycogen when fuel is
needed (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2013).
References
Berg, J.M., Tymoczko, J.L., Stryer, L. (2002). Biochemistry. 5th edition. New York: W H
Freeman.
Berg, J.M., Tymoczko, J.L., Stryer, L. (2013). Biochemistry: A Short Course. 2nd edition. New
York: W H Freeman.