Hey #chemtwitter and #biochemtwitter I need some input from you for a project expansion in an area out off my expertise: What kind of enzymes (cleaving molecular bonds) are ubiquitous in reasonable concentraion in different plant leaves?
Hypogycemia - low blood glucose causes agitation, impaired judgment, and combativeness.
Remember that heavy drinker which showed these once in a while?
These behavioral signs are classically related to #alcohol. #BiochemTwitter 8/
So, if you are drinking without adequately eating food, the #alcohol also takes away things that can make glucose in your body - leading to low blood glucose - hypoglycemia.
This will not occur if one is eating properly though. #BiochemTwitter 7/
Gluconeogenesis uses largely 5 things to make glucose *when* we are fasting.
So, remember the TWO molecules that got used up as a result of increased #alcohol breakdown?
Pyruvate & Oxaloacetate - 2 of the 5 things body uses to make glucose. #BiochemTwitter 6/
Ever wonder how your blood #glucose is maintained at 4 am when you are sleeping after having dinner at 9 pm?
One, we have stored some in liver (as glycogen)
Second, a process called gluco'neo'genesis. #BiochemTwitter#alcohol 5/
Back to #alcohol and blood #glucose story.
So the two reactions of #alcohol break down increases a high energy compound (NADH).
This rise increases two reactions, using up 2 important molecules called pyruvate & oxaloacetate (don't worry I'll give context). #BiochemTwitter
Slight aside: drug disulfiram, used to treat chronic alcoholism, inhibits aldehyde DH, increases acetaldehyde levels - flushing, nausea, increased heart beating, all aimed at making the experience distasteful. #BiochemTwitter#alcohol 3/
To know that, let us know how #alcohol is broken down in the body. Alcohol, which is ethanol, is broken by 2 important liver enzymes.
1st - alcohol dehydrogenase (makes acetaldehyde)
2nd - aldehyde dehydrogenase (makes acetate). #BiochemTwitter 2/
Can drinking #alcohol bring your blood glucose level down?
So #LiquorShops are set to open tomorrow in many parts of the country, and it has caused some stir - both for genuine and frivolous concerns. But let's talk about alcohol & blood glucose. #BiochemTwitter 1/
Working on ribonucleotide reductase is always humbling, and mere assay development has been a decades-long pursuit (see article below). #chemtwitter and #biochemtwitter what are your hardest enzymes to assay??
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsโฆ