# Gluconeogenesis --- **Gluconeogenesis** is a [[anabolism|metabolic]] process where [[glucose]] is made from other, non-glucose sources, such as [[triglycerides]], [[pyruvate]], or [[amino acids]]. We regularly rely on gluconeogenesis when we are fasting, like when we are asleep overnight, or when we are really going through glucose quickly, like during exercise or healing from injury. Those rates go up dramatically if we're really sick or starving. It is basically the exact reverse pathway of [[glycolysis]]. It starts with [[pyruvate]] and ends with [[glucose]]. ```mermaid graph TD A([proteins]) --> C([ketogenic AAs]) & D([glucogenic AAs]) B([triglycerides]) --> E([glycerol]) & F([fatty acids]) D & E --> G([glucose]) ``` ## Lipids If the body is using using *lipids* for gluconeogenesis, it breaks triglycerides down using [[lipolysis]] for their [[glycerol]] and [[fatty acids]]. Glycerol can be converted to [[glucose 6-phosphate]], which can be converted to glucose. The fatty acids can be used for energy as well (i.e. via [[β-oxidation]]), but that does not net us glucose, just acetyl CoA. ## Proteins We can use proteins for gluconeogenesis but it is a last resort, such as during [[starvation]]. If we do need to resort to this method, proteins must be broken down into their [[amino acids]] via a process called [[deamination]] and then the "carbon skeleton" can be used to make [[pyruvate]] (in the case of glucogenic AAs) or [[acetyl CoA]] (in the case of ketogenic AAs). ![[deamination.png]] There are two types of amino acids in regards to deamination: glucogenic and/or ketogenic. If the amino acid is ketogenic, it cannot. ___