Question

The glucose concentration gradient is maintained in liver cells due (in part) to phosphorylation of internal glucose. Which of the following processes also directly contributes to maintenance of the glucose concentration gradient?

A. Glycolysis
B. Gluconeogenesis
C. Glycogenesis
D. Glycogenolysis

Answer 1

Gluconeogenesis is the process that directly contributes to the maintenance of the glucose concentration gradient in liver cells, ensuring glucose availability for vital organs during low glucose conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The glucose concentration gradient in liver cells is maintained through the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, trapping it within the cell. Another process that directly contributes to this concentration gradient is gluconeogenesis, which is the synthesis of new glucose molecules from non-carbohydrate precursors. This occurs primarily in the liver during periods of low glucose availability, such as fasting, starvation, or low carbohydrate diets, thereby ensuring a consistent glucose supply for other cells and vital organs that rely on glucose as their primary energy source.