Ketone Bodies Explained: Formation, Detection, And Metabolic Role

Ketone Bodies Explained: Formation, Detection, And Metabolic Role

Question 1. Briefly give the pathway of Ketogenesis. How is the presence of Ketone bodies in urine detected?
Answer:

Urine Detection of Ketone Bodies:

• Ketone bodies are detected in urine by Rothera’s test.
• Nitroprusside in an alkaline medium reacts with the keto group of ketone bodies.
• Results in the formation of a purple ring.
• It detects acetone and acetoacetate in urine but not (3-hydroxybutyrate.

Question 2. Role of carnitine in beta-oxidation.
Answer:

• Carnitine helps in the transport of fatty acids from cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix.
• The Acyl group of acyl CoA is transferred to carnitine by carnitine acyltransferase I.
• The acyl-carnitine thus formed is transported to the mitochondrial matrix.
• Carnitine acyl transferase II converts acyl-carnitine to acyl CoA and carnitine is released.
• This carnitine returns to the cytosol for reuse.