Lecture 30: The fate of Pyruvate REVISIT!! Flashcards
26/11/2024
Does glycolysis require oxygen?
NOOO
How is pyruvate oxidised?
It has a carbon dioxide removed and is hence converted into acetyl-CoA
Did Harden and Young find out that inorganic phosphate is a limiting factor for photosynthesis?
Yes
Do we have to worry about running out of ATP?
No, because there is a constant interconversion between ATP and ADP
What happens if cofactors, like NAD+, run out?
Then glycolysis stops
What is done to pyruvate to restore the supply of NAD+?
What can pyruvate be converted to?
Ehanol in yeast cells, lactate in the muscles, acetyl coA(which can be further oxidised) under aerobic conditions in citric acid cycle
How is NAD+ regenerated aerobically?
- Pyruvate us oxidised to acetyl coA in the citric acid cycle.
- In the electron transport chain, NADH transfers electrons to Oxygen , forming water and regenerating NAD+.
-
Is it true that the regenration of NAD+ requires reduction of another compound?
Yes
What do anaerobic conditions lead to ?
fermentation
Define fermentation
“An ATP producing process in which organic compounds act both as electron donors and as electron acceptors”
(Glucose oxidised to pyruvate (glucose donates e-)
)
( Pyruvate reduced to ?? (pyruvate accepts e-)
)
when is lactate the fermentation product?
In animal muscle, red blood cells, some cancer cells, lactobacillus:
when is ethanol the fermentation product?
In plants and yeast
In which organisms can the fermentation product be: Acetate and other carboxylic acids, hydrogen etc?
In Various other microorganisms
How often are animal and plant cells usually anaerobic?
Animal and plant cells usually temporarily anaerobic
When are animal cells usually anerobic?
During strenuous exercise
Are cancer cells usually anaerobic?
Yes
Why are red blood cells anaerobic?Because they don;t have a mitochondria
Give some examples of environments that are permannetly anaerobic
Bacteria in marine and lake sediments, marshes, animal gut
What was the early atmosphere like?
Anaerobic, so glycolysis could be run
Why do we need to further oxidise pyruvate in the citric acid cycle?
Because this is the only way to release all of glucose’s energy, as the majority of pyruvate’s energy will still be stored in pyruvate at the end of glycolysis.
So which produces more ATP anaerobic respiration or aerobic respiration?
Aerobic respiration
Where does the citric acid cycle take place?
In the mitochondrial matrix
How does pyruvate reach the mitochondrial matrix?
It is cotransported there with H+ ions
What happens after pyruvate is cotransported into the mitochondria matrix?
It is decarboxylated, then converted into acetyl coA. This uses up a NAD+ and regenerates an NADH
Why were original studies of the movement of pyruvate from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix conducted on liver and on pigeons?
Because they’re both incredibly rich in mitochondria