Chapter 14, Problem 23P

Summary Introduction

To determine: The way in which the conversion of pyruvate to phosphoenolpyruvate in gluconeogenesis overcomes the large, negative, standard free energy change of the pyruvate kinase reaction in glycolysis.

Introduction:

For the brain and nervous system of humans, glucose from the blood is the major fuel. However, the supply of glucose from these stores is not always sufficient such as during vigorous exercises or during fasting. For these times organisms obtain glucose from noncarbohydrate source by the pathway of gluconeogenesis. In this pathway pyruvate and other three or four carbon compounds are converted into glucose. Gluconeogenesis occurs in plants, animals, microorganisms, and fungi.