What is the significance of glucose-6-phosphate and pyruvate?

Glucose-6-phosphate is readily utilized for the synthesis and storage of glycogen and its metabolism is enhanced to pyruvate via the glycolytic pathway due to the action of several regulatory enzymes under the control of insulin-mediated actions.

What happens if glucose-6-phosphatase is inhibited?

Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency results in hypoglycemia and excessive intracellular accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate (Fig. 43-2). Hypoglycemia may produce lethargy, coma, seizures and brain damage in gluconeogenic and glycogen synthetase deficiencies.

Why is glucose-6-phosphatase in the kidney?

The classical role of glucose-6-phosphatase in liver and kidney is the production of glucose for release into blood. In liver, glucose-6-phosphatase catalyses the terminal step of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Why does a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase lead to hypoglycemia?

…the absence of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase, which regulates the release of the simple sugar glucose from glycogen stored in the liver. This results in an abnormal accumulation of glycogen in the liver, causing the liver to enlarge and producing symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperuricemia (gout).

How does the role of glucose-6-phosphate in gluconeogenesis differ from that in glycolysis?

How does the role of glucose-6-phosphate in gluconeogenesis differ from that in glycolysis? In gluconeogenesis, glucose-6-phosphate is dephosphorylated to glucose (the last step of the pathway); in glycolysis, it isomerizes to fructose-6-phosphate ( an early step in the pathway).

What is G6PD in pregnancy?

G6pd deficiency predisposes cells to increased oxidative damage predisposing to hemolysis. G6PD deficiency in pregnancy may manifest as increased urinary tract infections, preeclamsia, neonatal jaundice, hydrops fetalis and still birth.