Discussion:
Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions
1. The energies of glycolysis shows that there is a large drop in free energy upon oxidation of glycerladehydes 3-phosphate to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. In the presence of oxygen, some of this energy is ultimately converted into ATP production. However, no such conversion happens under anaerobic conditions. Explain why?
2. How does the nonpolar nature of the active site in hexokinase promote phosphoryl transfer from ATP?
3. delta G knot for the aldolase reaction is 22.8 Kj/mol. In the cell at 37degree C, [DHAP]/[GAP]=5.5. Calculate the equilibrium ratio of [FBP]/[GAP] when [GAP]=10 to the power -4 M.
4. 2-phosphoglycerate and phosphoenolpyruvate differ only by dehydration between C-2 and C-3, yet the difference in delta G knot prime of hydrolysis is about -50Kj/mol. How does dehydration "trap" so much chemical energy?