Question

In the context of game birds' flight muscles relying on glucose 1-phosphate for energy, with the breakdown of stored muscle glycogen catalyzed by glycogen phosphorylase, and considering a panic flight scenario with a glycogen breakdown rate of approximately 120 μmol/min of glucose 1-phosphate per gram of fresh tissue, calculate the potential duration a game bird can fly, assuming flight muscles typically contain about 0.35% glycogen by weight. (Please assume the average molecular weight of a glucose residue in glycogen is 162 g/mol.)

A) 30 minutes
B) 45 minutes
C) 60 minutes
D) 75 minutes

Answer 1

In a panic flight scenario, a game bird can fly for approximately 1.1 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a panic flight scenario, game birds rely on the breakdown of stored muscle glycogen catalyzed by glycogen phosphorylase to provide energy. The breakdown of glycogen produces glucose 1-phosphate, which is used for energy. Assuming flight muscles typically contain about 0.35% glycogen by weight, we can calculate the potential duration of flight.

To calculate the potential duration, we need to determine the amount of glucose 1-phosphate that can be generated from the glycogen. We know that the glycogen breakdown rate is approximately 120 μmol/min of glucose 1-phosphate per gram of fresh tissue. So, if flight muscles contain 0.35% glycogen by weight, we can calculate the potential duration using the following steps:

1. Convert the weight percentage of glycogen to grams of glycogen.
2. Convert grams of glycogen to moles of glucose 1-phosphate using the molecular weight of a glucose residue in glycogen (162 g/mol).
3. Calculate the potential duration by dividing the moles of glucose 1-phosphate by the glycogen breakdown rate.

Let's perform these calculations:

1. Weight percentage of glycogen: 0.35%
2. Weight of glycogen (in grams) = weight percentage of glycogen * weight of fresh tissue
3. Moles of glucose 1-phosphate = weight of glycogen (in grams) / molecular weight of glucose residue in glycogen
4. Potential duration = moles of glucose 1-phosphate / glycogen breakdown rate

Let's substitute the values and calculate:

1. Weight of glycogen = 0.35% * weight of fresh tissue
2. Moles of glucose 1-phosphate = (weight of glycogen / 100) / 162
3. Potential duration = moles of glucose 1-phosphate / 120 * 10^(-6)

Now, let's perform the calculations:

1. Weight of glycogen (in grams) = 0.35% * weight of fresh tissue
2. Moles of glucose 1-phosphate = (weight of glycogen (in grams) / 100) / 162
3. Potential duration = moles of glucose 1-phosphate / (120 * 10^(-6))

Let's assume the weight of fresh tissue is 100 grams:

1. Weight of glycogen = 0.35% * 100 grams = 0.35 grams
2. Moles of glucose 1-phosphate = (0.35 grams / 100) / 162 = 2.16 * 10^(-6) moles
3. Potential duration = (2.16 * 10^(-6) moles) / (120 * 10^(-6)) = 0.018 minutes (or approximately 1.1 seconds)

Therefore, the potential duration a game bird can fly, assuming flight muscles typically contain about 0.35% glycogen by weight, is very short, approximately 1.1 seconds.