Answer to Question #99758 in Chemistry for ohaniso

Question

List some other substrates that could be used to replace glucose, especially if they would typically be a byproduct of another process.

Answer 1

Glucose is one of the major sources of energy in living cells. During the glycolysis process, glucose is broke down into two molecules of pyruvate that further transformed into acetyl-CoA. It enters the citric acid cycle and serves as a source of electrons and protons required for ATP production. As a result, other substrates that can be transformed into acetyl-CoA or can enter the citric acid cycle can replace glucose. For example, pyruvate, acetate, citrate, and several amino acids are transformed into acetyl-CoA during catabolic reactions that can be directly used in the citric acid cycle, not requiring a glycolytic pathway. However, these substrates can be used only under aerobic conditions.