Energy sources for muscular

activity
Dr. Aijratul
Energy
• Stored within muscle tissue :
25mM/kg dry muscle (40-50g).
• Sufficient for high intense activity = 2-
4 sec
• Need to resynthesize
• 3 primary sources of ATP:
- PCr
- Anaerobic glycolysis
- Aerobic processes
ATP synthesis from PCr
• PCr (Phosphocreatine) = converts ADP to ATP by donating
its phosphate in the presence of enzyme creatine kinase
(CK)
• The reaction is very rapid, but short-lived (eg; sprints of
1-10 sec)
• Also called anaerobic alactic.
• ATP synthesis from PCr = muscle crossbridge
• PCr regeneration = mitochondria (CKmito)
• Oxygen is needed for PCr recovery.
• Nearly 75% of PCr is resynthesized within 1 minute of
recovery, the rest is over the next 3-5 minutes.
ATP synthesis from glycolysis
• Contribute energy for activity 10-60 sec.
• Energy substrate = locally stored muscle glycogen & blood-borne
glucose
• Also known as anaerobic lactic.
• Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm.
ATP synthesis from aerobic processes
• Exercise beyond 60 sec.
• Oxidation of glucose and fatty
acids
• Takes place in the
mitochondria.
METs = metabolic equivalent
HRmax = maximum heart rate
HRR = heart rate reserved
VO2max = maximum volume of
oxygen
Quick discussion

Why can’t a marathon be sprinted?

Answer
• Rely on different type of energy system than
sprinting.
• Aerobic system (a.k.a oxidative phosphorylation)
• ATP synthesis rate

• Total number of reaction

Can muscle use protein as energy?
• Yes.
• Carbohydrate & fat made up of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
• Protein contained amino group
(nitrogen).
• Need to remove nitrogen before
converting to glucose in the liver.
• Then muscle oxidize glucose for
ATP synthesis.