The Role of the Vitamin Thiamine
By Jaime Rameño
Question #19
Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP)
•Vitamin B1
•Water soluble.
•Found in many,
many foods.
•Important
Coenzyme to the
Pyruvate
Dehydrogenase
Complex (PDH).
How is Pyruvate converted to Acetyl-CoA?
•PDH consist of three enzymes
•Converts pyruvate into Acetyl-Coa
•Also produces CO2 and one NADH
 Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex
•Very similar to
PDH
•Part of the Citric
Acid Cycle
•E1 has specificity
for αKetoglutarate.
•Produces
Succinyl-CoA,
NADH and CO2.
Thiamine Deficiency
 Beriberi
 Two main causes
 Lack of thiamine consumption
 Alcholism
 Alters the structure of thiamine.
 Doesn’t allow for absorption in the intestines.
Beriberi
 Wet
 Affects the nervous system
 Impairs motor skills and reflex functions
 Dry
 Affects circulatory system
 Vasodilatation and increased cardiac output
 Extreme cases, causes heart failure and lactic acidosis due to
ineffective PDH.
 Wernicke-Korakoff Sydrome
 Effects one’s mental state