Question

What is the main function of gluconeogenesis?

Answer 1

The term gluconeogenesis literally means "the generation of fresh glucose." It is a metabolic route that produces glucose from carbon substrates other than carbohydrates, such as lactate, glycerol, and glucogenic amino acids.

Complete answer:
Gluconeogenesis' major role is to create glucose from noncarbohydrate sources such as glucogenic amino acids, glycerol, and so on. Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis have a close link. Gluconeogenesis is the synthesis of glucose, whereas glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose. However, because there are irreversible stages in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis is not as simple as reversing glycolysis.

To avoid this, other enzymes in gluconeogenesis are required, such as Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK), which converts oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, which converts fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate, is also significant. Glucose-6-phosphatase converts glucose 6-phosphate to glucose at the end.

Gluconeogenesis occurs in the liver and kidneys. Gluconeogenesis supplies the needs for plasma glucose between meals. Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by diabetogenic hormones (glucagon, growth hormone, epinephrine, and cortisol). Gluconeogenic substrates include glycerol, lactate, propionate, and certain amino acids. The rate-limiting process in gluconeogenesis is catalysed by PEP carboxykinase. In gluconeogenesis, the dicarboxylic acid shuttle transports hydrocarbons from pyruvate to PEP. Carnivores and ruminant animals have no need to store glycogen in their liver cells since gluconeogenesis is a continuous process.

Therefore the main function of Gluconeogenesis' is to create glucose from noncarbohydrate sources.

Note: When liver glycogen stores begin to decline after 8 hours of fasting, gluconeogenesis develops to provide an alternative source of glucose. It primarily affects the liver and kidneys (to a lesser extent in the cortex). The following are the three primary precursors: Lactate is produced by anaerobic glycolysis in exercising muscle and red blood cells, and glycerol is produced by the breakdown of lipids and amino acids in adipose tissue (mainly alanine).