Question

Describe the chain of events that would occur when blood glucose level reaches 6 mM. this description should contain the effects on the following areas: (1) hormonal response, (2) liver glucose uptake, (3) liver glucokinase activity, (4) β-cell glucokinase activity, (5) liver hexokinase, and (6) which metabolic pathways are activated (there should be multiple) and why. Focus on main points.

Answer 1

• The increase in blood glucose levels (Diabetes mellitus) cause increase in insulin hormone in blood. It converts glucose into glycogen.
• The intake of glucose decreases and more glucose is eliminated through urine causing glycosuria.
• The glucokinase in the liver convert the glucose to glucose-6-phosphate with an expenditure of ATP.
• The beta cells has beta glucokinase that act as a sensor for the levels of glucose and helps to increase the secretion of insulin.
• The main function of hexokinase is converting glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. So the amount of glucose decreases in blood.
• When the levels of glucose increase, other metabolic pathways are activated to decrease the level like, glycogenesis, pentose phosphate pathways etc.