Textbook Question
What are the characteristics of Type II diabetes?
Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 22, Problem 75
Why is it important for muscle cells to export lactate into the bloodstream during heavy exercise?
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During heavy exercise, muscle cells rely on anaerobic respiration due to insufficient oxygen supply. This process converts glucose into energy (ATP) and produces lactate as a byproduct.
Lactate accumulation in muscle cells can lower the pH of the cells, leading to an acidic environment that can impair enzyme function and muscle contraction.
To prevent this, muscle cells export lactate into the bloodstream, where it can be transported to other tissues, such as the liver, for further processing.
In the liver, lactate can be converted back into glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis, which helps maintain blood glucose levels and provides energy for continued activity.
This export of lactate and its subsequent processing in the liver is part of the Cori cycle, which is essential for maintaining energy balance and preventing muscle fatigue during intense exercise.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Lactate Production
Lactate is produced during anaerobic respiration when muscle cells generate energy without sufficient oxygen. This process occurs primarily during intense exercise when the demand for energy exceeds the oxygen supply, leading to the conversion of pyruvate into lactate. Understanding lactate production is crucial for grasping how muscles adapt to high-intensity activities.
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Lactate Clearance
Exporting lactate into the bloodstream allows for its clearance from muscle cells, preventing acidosis and maintaining pH balance. Once in the bloodstream, lactate can be transported to other tissues, such as the liver, where it can be converted back into glucose through gluconeogenesis. This process is vital for sustaining energy levels during prolonged exercise.
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1:14Anaerobic Respiration Concept 3
Energy Metabolism
During heavy exercise, muscle cells rely on different energy pathways to meet increased demands. The shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism leads to lactate accumulation, which serves as an alternative energy source. Understanding energy metabolism helps explain why lactate export is essential for maintaining performance and preventing fatigue during intense physical activity.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
How many moles of ATP are generated from the catabolism of fructose (by glycolysis) in
(b) muscle cells?
Textbook Question
How many moles of ATP are generated from the catabolism of fructose (by glycolysis) in
(a) liver cells?
1
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Textbook Question
Why is it important for the cell that the NADH produced when pyruvate is converted to lactate be converted back to NAD+?
Textbook Question
What are the characteristics of Type I diabetes?
Textbook Question
Which of the following conversions would you expect to consume energy and which would you expect to yield energy based on the final oxidation state of the coenzymes involved in each reaction?
a. pyruvate → lactate