Question

Basically what would be the effect of using O2 instead of NAD+ in glycolysis? Is NAD+ more or less favorable to use in this pathway?

Answer 1

Glycolysis is the first stage of organisms that performs cellular respiration.glycolysis donot requir oxygen and in many anaerobic organisms gycolysis pathway can be seen.Glycolysis is a series of reactions that extract energy from glucose by splitting it into two three-carbon molecules called pyruvates. NAD+ is an oxidizing coenzyme that accepts electrons and protons from other molecules, creating the reduced form NADH. In the reverse reaction, NADH acts as a reducing agent that donates electrons and protons when it’s oxidized back into NAD+. NAD+ and NADH are used in a variety of biochemical pathways, including glycolysis, that require an oxidizing or reducing agent.

Glycolysis does not require the presence of oxygen. In Aerobic (requiring oxygen) ,the pyruvate produced by this process can undergo further oxidation via the citric acid cycle.

NAD+ acts as an electron and hydrogen acceptor and NADH acts as a hydrogen and electron donor. ... So NADH is important in cellular respiration, which is where energy is produced. NADH gives two electrons to the electron transport chain (ETC) and allows the hydrogen to be used to help move the electrons along the ETC.