Coverage Summary

KUNWOR, BISHAL SGD: 8 SECTION: A2

COMMUNICATE AND COMMENT MODULE-10

1. WHAT TOPICS IN THIS SECTION DO YOU FIND RELEVANT? CITE 2-3

TOPICS.
This module is all about concept of glycolysis and glycogen metabolism.
Now I am able to know pathway of glycolysis, glycogenesis and
glycogenolysis. This module also give knowledge about the importance
of enzyme involved in the process and highlights the disorder if specific
enzyme is defective. The topics which I personally relevant are:
a) Lactic acid fermentation
Many prokaryotic and eukaryotic undergoes lactic acid
fermentation. In fact, when there is low supply of oxygen in our
cell our cell undergoes this pathway. I found this topic relevant
because I can relate this when I am exercising. When I exercise, I
feel fatigue because of the formation and build up of lactic acid in
my skeletal muscle. And it is because our skeletal muscle doesn’t
receive appropriate oxygen and undergo this pathway to produce
lactic acid.
b) Glycogenesis
Glycogenesis is the process of synthesis of glycogen by sugar
molecule; glucose. I also found this topic related when I read
about its regulation. I came to know that there is synthase of
glycogen when there is excess glucose in our blood and specially
during when we are in Fed stage. This process is stimulated by
insulin hormone produced by beta-cell of pancreas. And I found
this topic more relevant when I remember that diabetes patients
are given insulin to maintain their blood glucose level.
2. WHAT TOPICS IN THIS SECTION DO YOU FIND CHALLENGING IN TERMS
OF UNDERSTANDING? CITE 2-3 TOPICS.

I found many topics easy to understand but some topics made me very
stressful learning them because of the new terms, new chemical names,
new enzymes and their mechanisms. The topics which I personally
found challenging in term of understanding are:

a) Glucagon and Insulin regulation of glycogen metabolism

When blood glucose level is low (i.e. Starvation), the α-cells of the
pancreas release a peptide hormone called glucagon which initiate
the signal transduction pathway within the liver cell that ultimately
begins glycogen breakdown. And in contrast to this, after ingesting
meal rich in carbohydrates, the blood glucose levels rise above the
normal 5.0mM value. This cause the β-cells of pancreas to release
the peptide hormone called insulin. And insulin ultimately initiate
the glycogen synthesis. I understood the basic outline effect of
glucagon and insulin but when I go to the depth of mechanism, I
found quite difficulty in terms of understanding. Despite I watch
many videos, regarding it and I was able to make the good concept
in it.

b) Irreversible and rate limiting steps of glycolysis and their inhibitor

and activator
There are 3 irreversible steps in the glycolysis and step catalyzed by
phosphofr uctokinase is consider as the rate limiting steps. I found
quite difficulty in studying these steps and their inhibitors and
activators in different conditions. However, this module was
interesting in studying. I was able to relate quite lot things to the
knowledge of my lower grades and able to understand the topics
easily.