NSC 408 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | FALL
2026/27 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT
Describe the Alanine-Glucose Cycle - ANSWER-1. In the muscle, glycogen
(polymer of glucose) is converted to glucose which undergoes glycolysis (to
release ATP energy) making pyruvate
2. Pyruvate (alpha-ketoacid) is trans-animated with glutamate (amino acid,
which comes from the trans-animation of alpha-ketoglutarate and leucine) to
make Alanine (amino acid) and alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-ketoacid).
3. Alanine travels through blood to the liver, where it is trans-animated with
alpa-ketoglutarate to make glutamate and pyruvate.
4. Glutamate is deanimated to form NH3 which enters urea cycle and forms urea
for excretion
5. Pyruvate undergoes gluconeogenesis forming glucose which then is released
into the blood and goes back to the muscle for energy usage
Glycolysis Definition/purpose - ANSWER-- First step of cellular respiration
(purpose is to make energy [ATP] for cell to use)
- Breaks down one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate
- Occurs in cytoplasm of cell
Glucagon
Insulin
Cytokines
Catecholamines
,Cortisol - ANSWER-G - Raises blood glucose (activates glycogen breakdown &
gluconeogenesis)
- released in response to low blood glucose levels (adapted startvation)
I - Lowers blood glucose, causes cells to uptake glucose from blood to use for
energy)
Cyto- Proteins involved in the inflammatory response (messengers)
Cat- Include adrenaline and dopamine (fight or flight response)
Cort - Increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis
- Released in response to stress and low blood glucose
Describe what happens for during adapted starvation for energy production -
ANSWER-Increased Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids are
transported to the liver for ketogenesis which produces ketones that enter the
blood and travel to muscles for energy use. Fatty acids are also taken to the
muscle. Glycerol is taken to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
Regular Responses
1. Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produce glucose which travels to the
muscles and is broken down into pyruvate then turned into alanine and lactate.
Alanine (which also comes from muscle breakdown) and lactate travel through
the blood back to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
, 2. Muscle also broken down to make glutamine which travels to other organs
Describe what happens for during sepsis/infection for energy production -
ANSWER-Increased Responses
1. In the liver, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produces glucose which
travels to the muscles where it is converted into pyruvate which is converted
into either lactate or alanine which both go back to the liver for gluconeogenesis
2. Muscles undergo muscle protein proteolysis which yields amino acids that go
into gluconeogenesis (alanine) and to other immune cells (glutamine)
Regular Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
2. Some fatty acids go to the muscle while some go to gluconeogenesis with
glycerol.
3. Glutamine made from amino acids in the muscle also goes to other organs.
Describe insulin regulation and metabolism - ANSWER-...
Describe glycolysis - ANSWER-...
Describe the krebs cycle - ANSWER-...
Describe the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate - ANSWER-...
Describe the Malate-Aspartate shuttle - ANSWER-...
2026/27 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT
Describe the Alanine-Glucose Cycle - ANSWER-1. In the muscle, glycogen
(polymer of glucose) is converted to glucose which undergoes glycolysis (to
release ATP energy) making pyruvate
2. Pyruvate (alpha-ketoacid) is trans-animated with glutamate (amino acid,
which comes from the trans-animation of alpha-ketoglutarate and leucine) to
make Alanine (amino acid) and alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-ketoacid).
3. Alanine travels through blood to the liver, where it is trans-animated with
alpa-ketoglutarate to make glutamate and pyruvate.
4. Glutamate is deanimated to form NH3 which enters urea cycle and forms urea
for excretion
5. Pyruvate undergoes gluconeogenesis forming glucose which then is released
into the blood and goes back to the muscle for energy usage
Glycolysis Definition/purpose - ANSWER-- First step of cellular respiration
(purpose is to make energy [ATP] for cell to use)
- Breaks down one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate
- Occurs in cytoplasm of cell
Glucagon
Insulin
Cytokines
Catecholamines
,Cortisol - ANSWER-G - Raises blood glucose (activates glycogen breakdown &
gluconeogenesis)
- released in response to low blood glucose levels (adapted startvation)
I - Lowers blood glucose, causes cells to uptake glucose from blood to use for
energy)
Cyto- Proteins involved in the inflammatory response (messengers)
Cat- Include adrenaline and dopamine (fight or flight response)
Cort - Increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis
- Released in response to stress and low blood glucose
Describe what happens for during adapted starvation for energy production -
ANSWER-Increased Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids are
transported to the liver for ketogenesis which produces ketones that enter the
blood and travel to muscles for energy use. Fatty acids are also taken to the
muscle. Glycerol is taken to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
Regular Responses
1. Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produce glucose which travels to the
muscles and is broken down into pyruvate then turned into alanine and lactate.
Alanine (which also comes from muscle breakdown) and lactate travel through
the blood back to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
, 2. Muscle also broken down to make glutamine which travels to other organs
Describe what happens for during sepsis/infection for energy production -
ANSWER-Increased Responses
1. In the liver, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produces glucose which
travels to the muscles where it is converted into pyruvate which is converted
into either lactate or alanine which both go back to the liver for gluconeogenesis
2. Muscles undergo muscle protein proteolysis which yields amino acids that go
into gluconeogenesis (alanine) and to other immune cells (glutamine)
Regular Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
2. Some fatty acids go to the muscle while some go to gluconeogenesis with
glycerol.
3. Glutamine made from amino acids in the muscle also goes to other organs.
Describe insulin regulation and metabolism - ANSWER-...
Describe glycolysis - ANSWER-...
Describe the krebs cycle - ANSWER-...
Describe the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate - ANSWER-...
Describe the Malate-Aspartate shuttle - ANSWER-...
