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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements regarding glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is incorrect?
A
G6PD deficiency can lead to increased susceptibility to oxidative stress.
B
G6PD activity is important for maintaining cellular levels of NADPH.
C
G6PD uses NADH as a cofactor to oxidize glucose 6-phosphate.
D
G6PD catalyzes the first step of the pentose phosphate pathway.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the role of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in cellular metabolism. G6PD is an enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the pentose phosphate pathway, which is crucial for producing NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate.
Step 2: Recall the importance of NADPH in the cell. NADPH is a reducing agent that helps combat oxidative stress by maintaining the reduced state of glutathione, a key antioxidant molecule.
Step 3: Analyze the statements provided. The first statement, 'G6PD deficiency can lead to increased susceptibility to oxidative stress,' is correct because a lack of NADPH impairs the cell's ability to handle oxidative damage.
Step 4: Evaluate the second statement, 'G6PD activity is important for maintaining cellular levels of NADPH.' This is also correct, as G6PD is directly involved in generating NADPH through the pentose phosphate pathway.
Step 5: Examine the third statement, 'G6PD uses NADH as a cofactor to oxidize glucose 6-phosphate.' This is incorrect because G6PD uses NADP⁺, not NADH, as a cofactor to oxidize glucose 6-phosphate. This distinction is critical to understanding the enzyme's function in the pentose phosphate pathway.