Figure 5.

Mitochondrial function during macronutrient undernutrition. When carbohydrates become low, mitochondria oxidize fats and protein from bodily stores. Lipolysis and amino acid catabolism produce mitochondrial Ac-coA, which enters the citric acid cycle. However, under conditions of low blood glucose, mitochondria in gluconeogenic tissues export malate such that oxaloacetate is depleted, leading to Ac-coA accumulation. In liver, ketone bodies are produced (not shown). Elevated Ac-coA leads to protein acetylation.