Chapter 16, Problem 15P

Interpretation Introduction

(a) Interpretation:

The number of glucose molecules required to provide for synthesis of one molecule of palmitate should be identified.

Concept introduction:

Mammals cannot synthesize glucose directly from acetyl-CoA but the carbons of acetyl-CoA enter the TCA or tricarboxylic acid cycle and forms oxaloacetate. The oxaloacetate then gets converted to glucose by gluconeogenesis. Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid containing 16 carbons. A sequence involving seven enzyme catalyzed reactions converts two carbon units to four carbon units.

Interpretation Introduction

(b) Interpretation:

The number of molecules of glucose required if all the glucose first proceed through the pentose phosphate pathway before they proceed through glycolysis for rest of the molecules to form pyruvate should be identified.

Concept introduction:

In the pentose phosphate pathway for each cycle to be completed, three glucose molecules are required. The single decarboxylation step loses three carbons from three glucose molecules.