The Libyan Academy for Postgraduate Studies Ajdabiya

Zoology Department

Curse : advanced Biochemistry

Instructor : D. SOUAD ALAUAME

Metabolism of Vitamin A and visual cycle

Submitted by : Hadeel Yousef Saleh
Introduction of Vitamin :

- vitamins are Tasteless, organic compounds that are required as nutrients

in small amounts by an organism for promote growth and reproduction .

- They can't be synthesized by the body must be obtained by outside

sources like diet, bacteria and sun.

- Vitamins have essential role in Regulate metabolism, help convert

energy in fat, carbohydrate, protein into ATP.

- All vitamins contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen , Some vitamins

contain nitrogen and sulfur chemical structure of each vitamin is unique ,
Each vitamin is a singular unit.
Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood vessels nervous
system chemicals and genetic materials .

- deficiency of vitamins is called Hypovitaminosis ,

an excess is called Hypervitaminosis -

- Classification is based on Solubility :

Eight water soluble: vitamin B Complex and vitamin C.
Four Fat soluble : vitamins A,D,E and K .
structure of Vitamin A

Vitamin "A" is often used as a collective term for several related

Biologically active compounds called "RETINOIDS" .

1\ Retinol: A primary alcohol containing a B-ionone ring .

2\ Retinal: The aldehyde derived from the oxidation of retinol.
3\ Retinoic acid: The acid derived from oxidation of retinal .
 METABOLISM PATHWAY

Sources

1\ Animal sources :
Liver , eggs , and milk fat .
2\ Plant Sources :
Vitamin A present in plants as (carotenes)
Carotenes α, ß, Ɣ
1\ present in carrots , potato and tomatoes .
2\ are yellow pigments containing ß. ionone ring at one end of the
molecular .
3\ are converted into vitamin A ( retinal aldehyde ) in the intestine
.

Absorption :
The major site for Vitamin A absorption is the Intestine .
- The absorption is along with other fats and requires bile salts. In
the intestine, Beta carotene is cleaved by a di- oxygenase in order
to form retinal which is then reduced to retinol by an enzyme
(NADH or NADPH dependent retinal reductase) present in the
intestinal mucosa.
- Within the mucosal cell, retinol is re-esterified with fatty acids,
incorporated into chylomicrons and transported to the liver .
Transport of vit A from Liver to Tissue
The vitamin A from the liver is then transported to peripheral
tissues as trans-retinol by the retinol binding protein (RBP). A
molecule of RBP binds one molecule of retinol.
Therefore a drop in RBP blood level leads vitamin A deficiency.
Function of Vit A :
1\ vision:
Retinal is essential for Night vision.
2\ Reproduction:
is essential for reproduction , is support sperm formation
(spermatogenesis) in male , maintains fetal life in female .
3\ Growth:
Retinol is essential for normal growth and bone and teeth
formation .
4\ maintenance of epithelial cells :
Retinol and retinoic acid are essential for normal differentiation of
epithelial cells .
This is important for smoothness of skin .
Visual Cycle
1\ Rhodopsin consists of protein called opsin bound to 11-cis
retinal (double bond at position 11 is in Cis form, while other
double bonds are in Trans form).
2\ When rhodopsin is exposed to dark light , 11 Cis retinal is
converted into all Trans retinal (all double bonds are in Trans
form).
3\ All Trans retinal changes the permeability of cell membrane of
rod cells. This allows the calcium ions to pass out of the cell
membrane. This stimulates the nerve impulse in optic nerve. Thus
the brain perceives light .
4\ Rhodopsin must regenerate for vision. All Trans retinal are,
converted back to 11-cis retinal. but this conversion is
incomplete. This can be supplied from dietary retinol, which is
oxidized to give 11-Cis retinal .

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

Women: 700 µg Men: 900 µg

Vitamin "A" is toxic in excess :
There is only a limited capacity to metabolize vitamin A, and excessive
intakes lead to accumulation beyond the capacity of binding proteins
Symptoms of toxicity affect the central nervous system (headache,
nausea, ataxia, and anorexia) .

Vitamin "A" Deficiency :

Reference
Medical biochemistry N.mallikarjuna Roa
Harper,s Biochemistry
Lippincott’s review of biochemistry, 3rd edition
Biochemistry Stryer 5th edition