Term
| What 3 unusual amino acids are found in cat urine? |
|
Definition
felinine
isovalthine
isobuteine |
|
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Term
| What causes the pungent odour in cat urine? |
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Definition
| microbial degradation of felinine/isovalthine/isobuteine produces pungent mercaptans |
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Term
| What is the pathway for producing eumelanin and pheomelanin? |
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Definition
1. phenylalanine
2. tyrosine
3. dopaquinone
4. eumelanin & pheomelanin |
|
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Term
| What is the precursor AA for Tyrosine? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| Why is niacin essential in a cat's diet? |
|
Definition
| tryptophan is not metabolized to produced niacin, only acetyl CoA |
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Term
| How much Phenylalanine/Tyrosine is required in a kitten's diet? |
|
Definition
8.5g for healthy growth
18g to maintain hair colour |
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|
Term
| How much more felinin is produced by intact males vs neutered males? |
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Definition
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Term
| What effect does the removal of alanine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing puppy? |
|
Definition
| No change (Ala is not essential) |
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|
Term
| What effect does the removal of arginine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing puppy? |
|
Definition
| Slower growth rate (can synth. Arg in small amounts but not enough for proper development) |
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Term
| What effect does the removal of lysine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing puppy? |
|
Definition
| Weight loss & eventual death (lysine is essential) |
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|
Term
| What effect does the removal of alanine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing kitten? |
|
Definition
| No change (Ala is not essential) |
|
|
Term
| What effect does the removal of arginine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing kitten? |
|
Definition
| almost immediate death as a result of hyperammonemia |
|
|
Term
| What effect does the removal of lysine from the diet have on the weight gain/loss of a growing kitten? |
|
Definition
| Weight loss & eventual death (lysine is essential) |
|
|
Term
| Name some partially convertible amino acid gluconeogenic precursors |
|
Definition
Threonine
Phenylalanine
Isoleucine |
|
|
Term
| What are the 4 general gluconeogenic precursors discussed in class? |
|
Definition
lactate
amino acids
glycerol
propionate |
|
|
Term
| Why are cats unable to use propionate to synthesize glucsose? |
|
Definition
| they do not have a higher fiber diet, are hindgut fermenters, do not benefit from the microbial fermentation that takes place in foregut fermenters to produce propionate |
|
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Term
| What are the two hepatic glucose-phosphorylating enzymes discussed in class? Describe their function |
|
Definition
Hexokinase
-substrate saturated at normal blood glucose levels means there is a steady uptake of glucose by the liver, but at a slower rate
Glucokinase
-enzyme automatically increases activity to a rapid rate when blood glucose levels increase |
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|
Term
| What enzyme are cats lacking that creates a challenge in maintaining glucose homeostasis? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the reasoning behind the idea that dry kibble increases the risk of diabetes in cats? |
|
Definition
-kibble is held together by starch, increasing their carbohydrate intake beyond what would happen in the wild
-cats have poor mechanisms for regulating blood glucose (lack glucokinase)
-metabolism of these carbohydrates means great fluctuations in blood glucose, increased risk of diabetes |
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|
Term
| Why do cats require derived fatty acids in their diet such as arachidonic acid? |
|
Definition
the enzyme d-6 desaturase has very low activity in cats
-required to metabolize linoleic acid and convert it to arachidonic acid |
|
|
Term
| Name some amino acids which are fully convertible to glucose |
|
Definition
Alanine
Aspartate
Glutamate |
|
|
Term
| How can you get around the issue of poor d-6 desaturase activity in cats? |
|
Definition
Feed primrose oil or black currant seed oil (contains gamma linolenic acid)
gamma linolenic acid can be used to synthesize arachidonic acid and other important FA's |
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Term
| What is the plant precursor for Vit A? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What enzyme required for the synthesis of Vit A are cats lacking? |
|
Definition
| B-carotene-15 15'-monoxygenase |
|
|
Term
| What is the storage form of Vit A? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the functional/active form of Vit A required for visual function? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
| What is the precursor for Vit D3 produced in the skin through absorption of UV radiation? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the proper name for Vit D3? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is Vit D3 converted to in the liver? |
|
Definition
| 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol |
|
|
Term
| Why are cats unable to produce Vit D3 in the skin? |
|
Definition
7-dehydrocholesterol delta 7 reductase is very active in cats
-this enzyme inhibits the synthesis of D3 from 7-dehydrocholesterol |
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|
Term
| What enzyme converts glutamic acid to glutamic semialdehyde? |
|
Definition
| pyrroline-5-carboxylase synthase |
|
|
Term
| What enzyme converts glutamic semialdehyde to ornithine? |
|
Definition
| ornithine aminotransferase |
|
|
Term
| Why is argnine synthesized in the liver unable to be used for protein synthesis? |
|
Definition
| high activity of the catabolic enzyme arginase |
|
|
Term
| What is the importance of citruline? |
|
Definition
-precursor for arginine in the kidney
-involved in urea cycle for detoxification of NH3 |
|
|
Term
| What happens if NH3 is not detoxified? |
|
Definition
| It targets to the brain, causes neurological symptoms, coma, death |
|
|
Term
| What enzyme converts glutamic acid to glutamic semialdehyde? |
|
Definition
| pyrroline-5-carboxylase synthase |
|
|
Term
| What enzyme converts glutamic semialdehyde to ornithine? |
|
Definition
| ornithine aminotransferase |
|
|
Term
| Why is argnine synthesized in the liver unable to be used for protein synthesis? |
|
Definition
| high activity of the catabolic enzyme arginase |
|
|
Term
| What is the importance of citruline? |
|
Definition
-precursor for arginine in the kidney
-involved in urea cycle for detoxification of NH3 |
|
|
Term
| What happens if NH3 is not detoxified? |
|
Definition
| It targets to the brain, causes neurological symptoms, coma, death |
|
|
Term
| What two amino acids important in the urea cycle are cats unable to synthesize? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What two enzymes are cats lacking which puts them at risk of neurological issues & death if arginine is absent from their diet? |
|
Definition
pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase
ornithine aminotransferase |
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