KIVO Med
Pentose phosphate pathway
A cytosolic diversion of glucose-6-phosphate that supplies NADPH,H+ and phosphate pentoses without producing ATP.
- 43 explained questions
- 25 flashcards
- 131 estimated course minutes
Updated
What you will learn
- Explain the purposes, location, and two phases of the pentose phosphate pathway.
- Follow pentose conversions and their return to glycolysis.
- Establish the taught balances and relate pathway flux to the NADP+/NADPH,H+ ratio.
- Relate G6PD deficiency to erythrocyte haemolysis risk.
Course outline
A glucose diversion for reduction and synthesis
The pentose phosphate pathway diverts glucose-6-phosphate from glycolysis to supply reducing power and carbon precursors.
13 min
Useful products and tissues with high PPP activity
Ribose-5-phosphate supplies synthetic skeletons, while NADPH,H+ drives reductions in tissues where these demands are high.
20 min
Oxidative phase: producing NADPH,H+ and ribulose-5-phosphate
Three irreversible reactions oxidize G6P, produce two NADPH,H+, hydrolyze a lactone, and release one carbon as CO2.
21 min
Rearranging phosphate sugars and returning to glycolysis
The reversible non-oxidative phase converts pentoses into ribose or reassembles their carbons into fructose-6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.
27 min
Balances, regulation, and adaptation to cellular demand
The PPP produces no ATP; its flow depends on the NADP+/NADPH,H+ ratio, and pentose use varies with cellular demand.
29 min
G6PD, glutathione, and haemolysis
In red blood cells, NADPH,H+ regenerates reduced glutathione; G6PD deficiency breaks this protection and exposes the cell to oxidative haemolysis.
21 min
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