MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) Gluconeogenesis
Aug 21, 2025
Joining as a guest host, Alex Starks, a physician, delves into the fascinating world of gluconeogenesis. He breaks down how the body ingeniously produces glucose from precursors like amino acids, lactate, and glycerol when supplies run low. Alex highlights the liver's crucial role and explains why muscle cells aren't involved in this process. He also touches on the energy demands and hormonal regulation by glucagon, making complex metabolic pathways understandable for MCAT prep.
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Gluconeogenesis Is Liver-Driven Glucose Production
- Gluconeogenesis means making new glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors when blood glucose is low.
- The liver (and kidneys slightly) perform this to maintain blood glucose for other organs like the brain.
Amino Acids Mostly Feed Gluconeogenesis
- Most amino acids can become glucose precursors by entering the Krebs cycle and converting to malate.
- Only leucine and lysine are exclusively ketogenic and cannot yield glucose.
Learn Key Amino Acid Conversions
- Remember transamination converts amino acids into gluconeogenic intermediates like pyruvate.
- Memorize that alanine and glutamine are key substrates, with alanine converting directly to pyruvate.