A quick look at biochemistry: Carbohydrate metabolism

Presentation of the association between 6 biochemical pathways. The biochemical reactions happen in the cytoplasm or mitochondria; therefore, a close interaction between these two parts always exists. These interactions are mostly, regulated by transporters that are in the mitochondrial membrane (red ovals). The energetic pathways in the cell metabolize energetic molecules such as glucose and lipids. These pathways are glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, lipogenesis and the electron transport chain. Pyruvate (product of glycolysis) can be used in amino acid reactions as well. The energetic products of the oxidative reaction of glucose in the mitochondria (NADH2 and FADH2) are delivered to the mitochondrial intermembrane (IMM) for complete conversion of their potential energy to chemical energy in the form of ATP. ATP is the energetic parcel in cells that is used in different biochemical reactions. In this figure, the main energetic biochemical reactions and their association to each other are illustrated. These reactions are 1. Glycerol phosphate shuttle, 2. NADH2 shuttle into IMM, 3. Transhydrogenase cycle (blue), 4. Citrate/malate cycle (pink), 5. Krebs cycle (red) and 6. Malate-aspartate shuttle (green). The correlative function of the lipid and carbohydrate biochemical pathways together with the electron transport chain of the mitochondria for maintenance of glucose is also shown. Abbreviations are explained in figure 2.