Chapter 24, Problem 24.38P

Interpretation Introduction

(a)

Interpretation:

The role of coenzymes NAD+ and NADH in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA should be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Aerobic respiration occurs in two steps:

• Glycolysis
• Citric acid cycle

Glycolysis is the first step that forms pyruvate as given below:

  ${\text{Glucose + 2NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{ + 4ADP + 2P}}_{\text{i}}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 Pyruvate + 4ATP + 2NADH + 2H}}^{\text{+}}$

In the presence of oxygen means aerobic respiration, this pyruvate enters the Krebs cycle and extracts energy in the form of electrons transfer. Electrons are transferred from the pyruvate to the receptors like ${\text{NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{, GDP, and FAD and CO}}_{\text{2}}$ gas is formed as the waste product. The products of citric acid cycles act as precursors for electron transport chains.

Answer to Problem 24.38P

 

Explanation of Solution

The metabolism of glucose starts from the glycolysis process. It is the first step in cellular metabolism to extract energy from glucose. It is the sequence of 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions that involve the glucose molecules into pyruvate with the production of ATP molecules.

The overall reaction of glycolysis must be written as:

  ${\text{C}}_{\text{6}}{\text{H}}_{\text{12}}{\text{O}}_{\text{6}}{\text{ + 2 NAD}}^{\text{+}}\text{ + 2 ADP + 2 P }\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 (CH}}_{\text{3}}\left(\text{C=O}\right){\text{COOH + 2 ATP + 2 NADH + 2 H}}^{\text{+}}$

The pyruvate from glycolysis synthesizes acetyl CoA by the loss of one C atom in the form of CO₂ gas in the presence of CoenzymeA. This breakdown of pyruvate molecule occurs by transfer of electrons to NAD+ to form NADH. Further, NADH will be used by the cell to produce ATP.

 

Interpretation Introduction

(b)

Interpretation:

The role of coenzymes NAD+ and NADH in the conversion of pyruvate to lactate should be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Aerobic respiration occurs in two steps:

• Glycolysis
• Citric acid cycle

Glycolysis is the first step that forms pyruvate as given below:

  ${\text{Glucose + 2NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{ + 4ADP + 2P}}_{\text{i}}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 Pyruvate + 4ATP + 2NADH + 2H}}^{\text{+}}$

In the presence of oxygen means aerobic respiration, this pyruvate enters the Krebs cycle and extracts energy in the form of electrons transfer. Electrons are transferred from the pyruvate to the receptors like ${\text{NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{, GDP, and FAD and CO}}_{\text{2}}$ gas is formed as the waste product. The products of citric acid cycles act as precursors for electron transport chains.

Answer to Problem 24.38P

 

Explanation of Solution

The metabolism of glucose starts from the glycolysis process. It is the first step in cellular metabolism to extract energy from glucose. It is the sequence of 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions that involve the glucose molecules into pyruvate with the production of ATP molecules.

The overall reaction of glycolysis must be written as:

  ${\text{C}}_{\text{6}}{\text{H}}_{\text{12}}{\text{O}}_{\text{6}}{\text{ + 2 NAD}}^{\text{+}}\text{ + 2 ADP + 2 P }\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 (CH}}_{\text{3}}\left(\text{C=O}\right){\text{COOH + 2 ATP + 2 NADH + 2 H}}^{\text{+}}$

The conversion of pyruvate to lactate is an enzymatical process. It is a hydrogenation reaction in which NADH changes to NAD+whereas the reversible process is catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenases.

 

Interpretation Introduction

(c)

Interpretation:

The role of coenzymes NAD+ and NADH in the conversion of pyruvate to ethanol should be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Aerobic respiration occurs in two steps:

• Glycolysis
• Citric acid cycle

Glycolysis is the first step that forms pyruvate as given below:

  ${\text{Glucose + 2ATP + 2NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{ + 4ADP + 2P}}_{\text{i}}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 Pyruvate + 4ATP + 2NADH + 2H}}^{\text{+}}$

In the presence of oxygen means aerobic respiration, this pyruvate enters the Krebs cycle and extracts energy in the form of electrons transfer. Electrons are transferred from the pyruvate to the receptors like ${\text{NAD}}^{\text{+}}{\text{, GDP, and FAD and CO}}_{\text{2}}$ gas is formed as the waste product. The products of citric acid cycles act as precursors for electron transport chains.

Answer to Problem 24.38P

 

Explanation of Solution

The metabolism of glucose starts from the glycolysis process. It is the first step in cellular metabolism to extract energy from glucose. It is the sequence of 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions which involves the conversion of glucose molecules into pyruvate with production of ATP molecules.

The overall reaction of glycolysis must be written as:

  ${\text{C}}_{\text{6}}{\text{H}}_{\text{12}}{\text{O}}_{\text{6}}{\text{ + 2 NAD}}^{\text{+}}\text{ + 2 ADP + 2 P }\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{ 2 (CH}}_{\text{3}}\left(\text{C=O}\right){\text{COOH + 2 ATP + 2 NADH + 2 H}}^{\text{+}}$

In the anaerobic conditions and presence of yeast, pyruvate converts to carbon dioxide and ethanol. Enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase catalyzes this reaction and removes a carbon dioxide molecule from the pyruvate to yield acetaldehyde which further changes to ethanol in the presence of NADH.