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Gluconeogenesis definitions

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  • Gluconeogenesis
    Metabolic pathway synthesizing glucose from pyruvate, activated when glucose stores are low and requiring significant energy input.
  • Pyruvate
    Three-carbon molecule produced at the end of glycolysis, serving as the starting point for glucose synthesis in gluconeogenesis.
  • ATP
    High-energy nucleotide consumed during glucose synthesis and acting as a regulator of metabolic enzymes based on its cellular concentration.
  • GTP
    Energy-carrying molecule used alongside ATP in the initial steps of glucose synthesis from pyruvate.
  • Glycolysis
    Ten-step metabolic pathway breaking down glucose into pyruvate, with three steps that are highly exergonic and not reversible.
  • Phosphofructokinase
    Key regulatory enzyme in glycolysis, activated by low ATP and inhibited by high ATP or fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.
  • Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate
    Molecule that activates glycolysis by stimulating phosphofructokinase and inhibits glucose synthesis by blocking FBPase.
  • FBPase
    Enzyme crucial for gluconeogenesis, inhibited by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate to prevent glucose synthesis when not needed.
  • Allosteric Regulation
    Control mechanism where molecules bind to sites other than the active site, altering enzyme activity in metabolic pathways.
  • Acetyl CoA
    Two-carbon molecule generated from fatty acid breakdown, feeding into energy-producing cycles and ATP generation.
  • NADH
    Electron carrier produced during fatty acid and glucose breakdown, later used to generate ATP in cellular respiration.
  • FADH2
    Reduced electron carrier formed during fatty acid oxidation, contributing to ATP synthesis in mitochondria.
  • Glycogen
    Branched polysaccharide storing glucose units, rapidly converted to glucose 6-phosphate for energy production.
  • Phosphorolysis
    Process of breaking chemical bonds using inorganic phosphate instead of water, as seen in glycogen breakdown.
  • Glucose 6-phosphate
    Phosphorylated glucose derivative formed directly from glycogen or as the first product in glycolysis.