Mini case study: Alex is a 15-year-old Caucasian male, who i…
Mini case study: Alex is a 15-year-old Caucasian male, who is unable to perform strenuous exercise because he lacks the enzyme to effectively breakdown glycogen in the muscles. Alex’s blood was tested for alanine content. In a normal person, you would expect that blood alanine would increase during strenuous anaerobic exercise. But in Alex’s blood samples, there is a decrease in alanine concentration, leading you to believe that Alex’s muscle cells are taking up alanine rather than releasing it. Why would blood alanine concentrations increase in a normal person? (2 pts.) Hint: Think of the muscle fuel supply, the connection between pyruvate and alanine, and the role of nitrogen metabolism in the liver as well as, the liver’s role in gluconeogenesis. Why do blood alanine concentrations decrease in Alex? (2 pts.)