glukoneogeneettistä

Glukoneogeneettistä refers to the process of gluconeogenesis, which is a metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from certain non-carbohydrate carbon substrates. This process primarily occurs in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in the kidney. Gluconeogenesis is essential for maintaining blood glucose levels during periods of fasting, starvation, or intense exercise when carbohydrate intake is insufficient.

The substrates for gluconeogenesis include lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, and glucogenic amino acids. Lactate is converted to pyruvate, which can then enter the gluconeogenic pathway. Glycerol, derived from the breakdown of triglycerides, can also be utilized. Glucogenic amino acids, obtained from protein catabolism, are deaminated, and their carbon skeletons are converted into intermediates of the pathway.

Gluconeogenesis is a complex process that involves a series of enzymatic reactions. While some steps are shared with glycolysis, the reverse pathway of glucose breakdown, key regulatory enzymes are unique to gluconeogenesis. These enzymes bypass the irreversible steps of glycolysis, allowing for the net synthesis of glucose. The primary regulatory hormones involved are glucagon and cortisol, which promote gluconeogenesis, and insulin, which inhibits it.

Maintaining stable blood glucose is crucial for the proper functioning of organs, particularly the brain, which relies heavily on glucose as its primary energy source. Gluconeogenesis plays a vital role in ensuring a continuous supply of glucose to these tissues when dietary intake is limited, thereby preventing hypoglycemia and its associated complications.