In mammals, some tissues depend almost completely on glucose for their
metabolic energy.
For the human brain and nervous system, as well as the erythrocytes, testes, renal
medulla, and embryonic tissues, glucose from the blood is the sole or major fuel
source.
The brain alone requires about 120 g of glucose each day—more than half of all the
glucose stored as glycogen in muscle and liver.
the supply of glucose from these stores is not always sufficient; between meals and
during longer fasts, or after vigorous exercise, glycogen is depleted.
This is accomplished by a pathway called gluconeogenesis (“formation of new
sugar”), which converts pyruvate and related three- and four-carbon compounds to
glucose.
Conversion of Fructose 1,6- Conversion of Glucose 6-Phosphate
Bisphosphate to Fructose 6- to Glucose Is the Third Bypass
Phosphate Is the Second Bypass
glucose 6-phosphatase
fructose 1,6- bisphosphatase (FBPase-1)
This Mg2-activated enzyme is found on the
lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum of
Because this reaction is highly exergonic hepatocytes and renal cells (see Fig. 15–6).
and therefore irreversible in intact cells, Muscle and brain tissue do not contain this
the generation of fructose 6-phosphate enzyme and so cannot carry out
from fructose 1,6-bisphosphate gluconeogenesis. Glucose produced by
gluconeogenesis in the liver or kidney or
ingested in the diet is delivered to brain and
muscle through the bloodstream.
Gluconeogenesis equation
Glycolysis equation
