After pyruvate enters the mitochondria, what would be the maximum number of ATP molecules produced from the complete oxidation of one molecule of pyruvate ?
Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain, also known as the electron transport system, is a group of proteins that transfer electrons through a membrane within mitochondria to create a gradient of protons that drives adenosine triphosphate (ATP)synthesis. The cell uses ATP as an energy source for metabolic processes and cellular functions. ETC involves series of reactions that convert redox energy from NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + hydrogen (H)) and FADH2(flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)) oxidation into proton-motive force(PMF), which is then used to synthesize ATP through conformational changes in the ATP synthase complex, a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.
Metabolism
Picture a campfire. It keeps the body warm on a cold night and provides light. To ensure that the fire keeps burning, fuel needs to be added(pieces of wood in this case). When a small piece is added, the fire burns bright for a bit and then dies down unless more wood is added. But, if too many pieces are placed at a time, the fire escalates and burns for a longer time, without actually burning away all the pieces that have been added. Many of them, especially the larger chunks or damp pieces, remain unburnt.
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the cellular process involved in the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules from the organic nutritional source obtained from the diet. It is a universal process observed in all types of life forms. The glucose (chemical formula C6H12O6) molecules are the preferred raw material for cell respiration as it possesses a simple structure and is highly efficient in nature.
After pyruvate enters the mitochondria, what would be the maximum number of ATP molecules produced from the complete oxidation of one molecule of pyruvate ?
Pyruvate oxidation is the most important step in the cellular respiration. It acts as a key connector which links the glycolysis with the whole respiration process. The fate of the carbon atoms in the carbon of glucose is to form glyceraldehade-3- phosphate (G3P) and pyruvate. This pyruvate goes under further oxidation in presence of oxygen in the mitochondrial matrix in case of eukaryotes to form acetyl-CoA. So, this pyruvate oxidation reaction is a junction between the glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
Pyruvate is a charged molecule, so in eukaryotes it must be in mitochondrion with the help of transport protein. In mitochondria, the pyruvate is oxidized into acetyl-CoA catalyzed by the enzymes of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This is an oxidative decarboxylation reaction in which the carboxyl group of pyruvate gets released as CO2 and the remaining two carbons form the acetyl group of acetyl-CoA.
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