Ketone body formation and utilisation

Acetoacetate, -hydroxy butyrate and acetone are collectively called as ketone bodies. The process of formation of ketone bodies in the liver is called ketogenesis. Blood level is usually less than 2 mg % in well-fed state.Increased production of ketone bodies is known as ketosis.High level of ketone bodies in blood are referred to as ketonemia More ketone bodies in the urine is called as ketonuria. Lungs mainly eliminate acetone.

The acetyl CoA formed in fatty acid oxidation enters into TCA cycle only if fat and carbohydrate degradation are appropriately balanced

Conditions in which ketone body formation areProlonged starvation: During starvation the carbohydrate level will be low. So the stored fat of the adipose tissue break down to free fatty acids. The free fatty acids formed enter the liver and undergoes -oxidation to release acetyl CoA which cannot be utilized by the liver through TCA cycle due to lack of Oxaloacetate.

In starvation TCA cycle is impaired due to the deficiency of oxaloacetate which is diverted to glucose synthesis (gluconeogenesis).

Therefore acetyl CoA converted to ketone bodies to meet the energy needs.

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus: Because of the lack of insulin the carbohydrate metabolism is impaired The adipose tissue fat becomes the main source of energy and its degradation is generally accelerated. This results in the excessive production of acetyl CoA, leading to accumulation of acetyl CoA and its conversion to ketone bodies Feeding high fat diet: Excess breakdown of fatty acids in the liver takes place. Formation of more acetyl CoA. Once the acetyl CoA formation exceeds more than the requirement of the liver tissues it is converted to ketone bodies and exported to muscle, heart and kidney to meet the energy requirement.. So the peripheral tissues switch over to utilize ketone bodies.

Formation of ketone bodiesSite: Liver mitochondriaTwo molecules of acetyl CoA Thiolase Acetoacetyl CoA

CoASH Acetyl CoA HMG CoA synthase CoASH

β-OH β-methyl glutaryl CoA [HMG CoA]

HMG CoA lyase Acetoacetate + Acetyl CoA

-hydroxy butyrate NADH+H+

dehydrogenase NAD+ Spontaneous reaction -hydroxy butyrate CO2+ Acetone

The ratio of hydroxy butyrate to acetoacetate depends on the NADH / NAD+ ratio inside mitochondria. Hydroxybutyrate is a honorary to acetoacetate.

Because it is a β- ketoacid, acetoacetate also undergoes a slow, spontaneous decarboxylation to acetone

Acetoacetate and -hydroxy butyrate are week acids, which slowly deplete alkali reserves (bicarbonate) of the body and causes metabolic acidosis. This condition is known as ketoacidosis.

Utilisation of ketone bodies (ketolysis)The liver cannot utilize ketone bodies because it lacks the enzyme Thiophorase or CoA transferase which is required for the activation of ketone bodies

Acetoacetate and -hydroxybutyrate can be used as a source of energy in peripheral tissues [kidney, muscle]. The -hydroxybutyrate is reconverted to acetoacetate and the acetoacetate is then reactivated to acetoacetyl CoA. Acetoacetyl CoA, formed , is cleaved by thiolase to yield two molecules of acetyl CoA which can be oxidized in the TCA cycle to H2O and CO2

β-Hydroxybutyrate NAD + β-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase NADH +H+

Acetoacetate Succinyl CoA CoA transferase or Thiophorase

Succinate ATP CoA-SH Acetoacetyl CoA Acetoacetate

Thiolase Thiokinase

CoASH

2 Acetyl CoA TCA Cycle During prolonged starvation brain utilize ketone bodies. Acetoacetate and -hydroxy butyrate serve as an importantsource of energy for skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, renalcortex etc.Ketone bodies are water soluble They are easily transported from the liver to various tissues

During starvation ketone bodies can meet 50-70% energy needs of brain. Regulation

Glucagon stimulate ketogenesis

Insulin Inhibit ketogenesis

The increased ratio of glucagon/insulin in diabetes

mellitus promotes ketone body formation.

Ketogenic substances: Fatty Acids, amino acids

Antiketogenic substances; Glucose, glycerol and

glucogenic amino acids (Glycine, Alanine , Serine,

Glutamate etc)

Reference: Essentials of Biochemistry

Dr.S. Nayak March 2011