In: Biology
A two-carbon molecule, acetyl is combined with co-A as a result of pyruvate processing (with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex). What happened to the 3rd carbon which was present in pyruvate?
How many glucose molecules are needed to make 24 acetyls in pyruvate processing?
Where and how many NADHs are generated (during glycolysis, pyruvate processing, and CAC) ?
What will happen to the NADHs after they are generated?
What is the net gain of ATP per glucose molecule which was metabolized through glycolysis and fermentation?
Answer 1. The 3rd carbon is lost as CO2, during the oxidative decarboxylation process that occurs after glycolysis and just prior to kreb cycle.
Answer 2. One glucose produces two acetyl- CoA. Thus, 12 glucose molecules will be required to form 24 Acetyl CoA.
Answer 3. Glycolysis synthesizes 2 NADH2, pyruvate processing or one oxidative decarboxylation produces 1 NADH2. One kreb cycle or tri carboxylic acid cycle produces 3 molecules of NADH2.
Now, 1 glucose produces two pyruvate molecules. Each pyruvate produces one NADH2. Thus overall two NADH2 are produced.
One pyruvate produces one NADH2. Thus,two pyruvate produces 2NADH2.
One kreb cycle produces 3 NADH2. Thus, 2 pyruvate will produces 2 kreb cycle and 6NADH2.
Answer 4. NADH will undergo oxidative phosphorylation in the last step of aerobic respiration. It will reduce the oxygen to produce water molecule.
Answer 5. Aerobic respiration produces 36 to 38 ATP and fermentation produces just 2 ATP.
Glycolysis 8 ATP
Oxidative decarboxylation 6 ATP
Kreb cycle 24 ATP
Makes total of 38 ATP out of which 2ATP are lost during membrane transport.