Question

3. Why is it possible for fructose, galactose, mannose and even glycerol to be catabolized via glycolysis? Provide specific explanation for each compound

Answer 1

FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE MEANING OF CATABOLIZATION VIA GLYCOLYSIS.

GLYCOLYSIS IS A STEP-BY- STEP PROCESS WHERE SUGARS ( LIKE FRUCTOSE, GALACTOSE, MANNOSE) BREAK DOWN OR CATABOLISE TO UNDERGO PHOSPHORYLATION (ADDITION OF PHOSPHATE GROUPS) AND ALSO FERMENTATION INVOLVING THE LIBERATION OF CARBON-DI-OXIDE.

THE ABILITY OF A SUGAR TO UNDERGO GLYCOLYSIS DEPENDS ON ITS ABILITY TO ACCEPT THAT PHOSPHATE GROUP DURING THE PHOSPHORYLATION PROCESS. THE SUGAR THAT READILY ACCEPTS THE PHOSPHATE GROUP WILL GET CATABOLIZED AND LIBERATE CARBON-DI-OXIDE.

HERE IN YOUR ABOVE QUESTION:

FRUCTOSE, GALACTOSE AND MANNOSE WOULD READILY ACCEPT THE PHOSPAHTE GROUP AND BREAK DOWN TO RELEASE CARBON-DI-OXIDE.

FRUCTOSE, GALACTOSE, MANNOSE HAVE TO BE FIRST CONVERTED TO GLUCOSE, WHICH THEN ACCEPT THE PHOSPHATE GROUP IN ORDER TO BE CONVERTED TO PYRUVATES (PHOSPHORYLATION) AND LIBERATE CARBON-DI-OXIDE. THUS, ITS POSSIBE FOR THEM TO BE CATABOLIZED VIA GLYCOLYSIS.