The Process of Biochemistry - Case Study Example

Biochemistry Case of In normal muscle activity, glucose is transported through the bloodstream from the liver to the muscles. This glucose is actually the product of glycogenolysis and provides the muscle with Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is the basic energy currency for the cell. Pyruvate is the end product of this process when energy is sufficient but during the time of hypoxia, this pyruvate goes into the lactic acid cycle. It is the conversion of pyruvate into lactate to produce an extra amount of energy which is 2 molecules of ATP.

The enzyme involved in this process is called lactate dehydrogenase. This lactate is normally taken back to the liver where it would convert back into pyruvate and glucose through the process of gluconeogenesis. This glucose is transferred back again muscle and the cycle is completed. In the process of reconversion of glucose, six ATP molecules are consumed and hence there is a net loss of 4 ATP’s in one cycle. ( Nelson 2005). If this whole process was to occur in muscle only, then there would be excessive loss of energy and muscle wasting just as it was seen with the patient in the clinical presentation.

There would be a net loss of energy instead of production and lactic acid would ultimately start accumulating in the muscle causing lactic acidosis. Moreover, ATP consumption would be faster than its production, and some ADP would also be converted into AMP which is ultimately lost in urine all these are signs of chronic fatigue syndrome or mitochondrial disease. ( Sarah Myhill 2009).Given below is the dynamic which shows the interaction of Cori’s cycle and the Citric Acid cycle and the way they are related to ATP’s and oxygen concentration.

A hypothetical defect in pyruvate dehydrogenase or Isocitrate dehydrogenase α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase can prevent an increase in ATP generation because these enzymes produce NADH in a citric acid cycle which is equivalent to 2.5ATPs. Moreover, Succinate dehydrogenase deficiency can also cause this defect since it produces FAD which is equal to 1.5ATPs. These enzymes can greatly damage the production of ATP through. The concentration of NAD+ is maintained in the body and it is reconverted and regenerated through other biochemical procedures that occur inside the cell like the citric acid cycle (Nesbitt V 2011).

NADH and FADH2 from the citric acid cycle get used in the electron transport chain and undergo oxidative phosphorylation where they use oxygen and converted ADP into ATP by using a molecule of phosphate as well. This is how citric acid products are converted into ATP. Coenzyme Q10 plays a central role in the oxidative phosphorylation of cells. It has a very unique role in the electron transport chain and is basically lipid soluble and maintains the proton gradient by undergoing oxidation and reduction. It is present inside the inner mitochondrial membrane of all the cells in the body.

Electrons normally pass through NADH and succinate to oxygen which is then converted into water and this whole process would occur through the electron transport chain. ETC functions through Complex I, complex II, and Complex III. Energy-generating currency, ATP, is produced where there is transport of proteins across the membrane and this transfer of electrons is the basic function that is being transferred by coenzyme Q10. This function is very important for energy synthesis as unlike other cycles in the body, there is no alternative to this and only this coenzyme can produce this process.